Polio outbreak reported in South Sudan *JUBA, 1 October 2013 *– Polio has reemerged in the republic of South Sudan nearly four years when the last polio case was reported in the country in 2009.
Three children have been confirmed by the Kenya Medical Research Institute with the infection, two in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State and another in Eastern Equatoria State, the national ministry of Health announced. “We consider this a national health emergency,” Honourable Dr.Riek Gai, Minister of Health, said on Monday. We are mobilizing from the highest level of Government to every community in the country in order to stop this disease. “We are also working closely with WHO, UNICEF, and other key partners around the world and here in South Sudan to ensure the most effective response. Together, we will stop the spread of polio in South Sudan,” the Minister added. Two girls, aged two and eight, living in Aweil South County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State and a two year-old girl in Ikotos County, Eastern Equatoria State, were confirmed on September 26 as having polio. The status of the three girls is being followed closely the minister said. Following the confirmation of the three polio cases, the Government and partners have started emergency vaccinations in the areas where the virus was detected. The emergency “mop-up” campaign, in Aweil South County in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, and Gogrial West county in Warrap State and Ikotos and Budi counties in Eastern Equatoria State will continue through October 4, Dr. Gai told reporters. “This “mop-up” campaign is designed to stop the spread of the virus quickly” he said. Additional campaigns will be held in every State in the country in October, November and December, he said. This will be an ongoing process to ensure children in South Sudan are protected from polio. The Government of South Sudan is also continuing to coordinate with neighboring countries in polio eradication efforts. In May this year, a polio outbreak was reported in Somalia, which quickly spread to Kenya and Ethiopia. Following the outbreak, medical authorities across South Sudan have been on high alert to look for any possible cases in this country. The Ministry of Health and its partners conducted additional polio vaccination campaigns in August in the States considered most at risk from the outbreak in the affected countries on its borders. Those States were Upper Nile, Jonglei, Eastern Equatoria and Central Equatoria. Pariang County in Unity State was also included in that vaccination campaign. “We are organizing intensive vaccination campaigns throughout the country to protect our children against this devastating disease. We are determined to stop the spread of polio,” the Minister said, Dr. Gai appealled to all parents to make sure their children are vaccinated. "Protect your children through routine immunization and by making sure they receive additional polio vaccinations. We are working together for the eradication of polio. As long as polio exists anywhere in the world, every unimmunized child is at risk", he said. *Reported by Matata Safi * -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14oq8bJhkdBaMrqHqTpEsDHC9rxSizjOtQs9pyytcAF5MsA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
