WHO, government issue new
Dec 16, 2008
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) and the health ministry have warned several districts of the risk of paralytic polio.
By Anthony Bugembe and Raymond Baguma
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) and the health ministry have warned several districts of the risk of paralytic polio.
“For years, Uganda has not registered any cases of paralytic polio. However, we are concerned that the disease may spread from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo,†said Monica Musenero, the principle epidemiologist in the health ministry.
The disease is also known as wild polio.
According to the ministry, Uganda has been free of the virus since 1996 and was certified as free in October 2006.
“We have had polio surveillance for the past eight years and this will continue. Due to the global sensitivity to polio, we don’t want any chances of re-entry,†Musenero said.
In September, WHO confirmed two cases of the virus in southern Sudan and the southern Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Due to the free movement of people between Uganda, DR Congo and southern Sudan, there is a possibility of importing it.
Parents in the high risk areas have been urged to take all children under the age of five to health facilities for immunisation update.
The high risk districts are Kibaale, Hoima, Masindi, Amuru, Arua, Maracha and Nebbi.
Others are Kaabong, Kotido, Abim, Lira, Ntungamo, Isingiro, Masaka, Wakiso, Luweero, Kamuli, Kaliro, Busia, Manafwa and Nakasongola.
Musenero said Karamoja had been put on the high risk list because of lack of control measures on the Kenyan side. The west, she said, was included because of the influx of refugees from the DR Congo.
The virus is contracted orally, usually from hands contaminated with faeces from an infected person. It invades the brain nerve cells or the spinal cord, leading to paralysis of muscles that control swallowing and breathing. This also affects the limbs.
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) and the health ministry have warned several districts of the risk of paralytic polio.
“For years, Uganda has not registered any cases of paralytic polio. However, we are concerned that the disease may spread from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo,†said Monica Musenero, the principle epidemiologist in the health ministry.
The disease is also known as wild polio.
According to the ministry, Uganda has been free of the virus since 1996 and was certified as free in October 2006.
“We have had polio surveillance for the past eight years and this will continue. Due to the global sensitivity to polio, we don’t want any chances of re-entry,†Musenero said.
In September, WHO confirmed two cases of the virus in southern Sudan and the southern Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Due to the free movement of people between Uganda, DR Congo and southern Sudan, there is a possibility of importing it.
Parents in the high risk areas have been urged to take all children under the age of five to health facilities for immunisation update.
The high risk districts are Kibaale, Hoima, Masindi, Amuru, Arua, Maracha and Nebbi.
Others are Kaabong, Kotido, Abim, Lira, Ntungamo, Isingiro, Masaka, Wakiso, Luweero, Kamuli, Kaliro, Busia, Manafwa and Nakasongola.
Musenero said Karamoja had been put on the high risk list because of lack of control measures on the Kenyan side. The west, she said, was included because of the influx of refugees from the DR Congo.
The virus is contracted orally, usually from hands contaminated with faeces from an infected person. It invades the brain nerve cells or the spinal cord, leading to paralysis of muscles that control swallowing and breathing. This also affects the limbs.