Syria, confirmed polio epidemic. NGOs: Immediate ceasefire The World Health Organization (WHO) today confirmed the outbreak in Syria , explaining that the disease has been detected in ten of the twenty-two cases examined by the organization. The first tests were carried out on persons residing in the area of Deir Al Zour early as October. Polio did not recur in Syria since 1999, when it was recorded the last case . The disease mainly affects children under five years old and has a high rate of infection. It can lead to paralysis and even death. Since the conflict that is taking the country, has stopped the immunization program , which involved the first 95 % of children. It is currently 52% of the vaccinated children and half a million did not receive treatment . According to the World Health Organization Syria is a country at risk. Despite the Ministry of Health has declared his willingness to respond to the emergency , the greatest danger is that of a spread of the disease , due to the large numbers of refugees moving within the country and towards the borders . Currently , with the support of the United Nations , you are promoting a vaccination campaign for 2.4 million children , not only to fight polio , but also measles, mumps and rubella. The non-profit organization Save the Children , which currently has 21 thousand children vaccinated , called for a cease-fire that would allow operators a detailed answer to the problem. Similar attempts have already been successfully implemented in Afghanistan , Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The polio epidemic not only affects Syria itself, but also the countries of destination for refugees , including Europe , which need to put more attention to the situation of children coming.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 18:56:25 +0000
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