Polio Vaccination Campaign to be Launched in Somali Region

Addis Ababa June 05/2018 Polio vaccination campaign will be launched in Somali Regional State this month to counter the threat of the virus observed in Ethiopia and Kenya, Ministry of Health disclosed. Although it has not so far attacked people, the polio causing virus detected through environmental surveillance has surfaced in the areas and can be a threat to the public, it added. Briefing journalists today, State Minister of Health Dr. Kebede Worku stressed the need for conducting the campaign in five zones of Somali Regional State. The vaccination campaign will be conducted through collaboration efforts of Ethiopia and Kenya. In addition, polio vaccination campaign will be conducted in October 2018 in areas   vulnerable to the spread of the virus, Dr. Kebede elaborated. Noting that the commendable progress made towards eliminating polio from earth over the last two decades through the active involvement of communities, the State Minister urged active public participation in prevention campaigns to stop the virus. Up until August 2013, when the first case of wild polio virus was confirmed in Somali Region, Ethiopia had been polio-free since 2008. Ethiopia later received from the Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) in June 2017 when Ethiopia’s submission of a national polio free status report was accepted. Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children under five years of age. It invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours, it was learnt.