Polio

Source: NIE Context: India has been placed on high alert after a rise in polio cases in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the only two remaining endemic countries. About Polio: What it is? Polio (Poliomyelitis) is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects the nervous system, leading to paralysis or even death in severe cases. The …

Super-engineered vaccines created to help end polio

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: BBC  Context: Scientists have “super-engineered” polio vaccines to prevent them from mutating into a dangerous form that can cause outbreaks and paralysis. The wild poliovirus is currently limited to small pockets in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and oral vaccines play a crucial role in eradicating polio worldwide. However, the oral …

Mozambique confirms first wild poliovirus case in 30 years:

GS Paper 2: Syllabus: Issues related to Health.   Context: Mozambique has identified its first case of wild poliovirus Type 1 this week after a child contracted the disease. It is the country’s first such case since 1992 and the second imported case of wild poliovirus in Southern Africa this year. An outbreak was reported …

India Reaches Milestone In Polio Eradication – Polio A Fact Sheet

On 13 January, 2012, India reached a major milestone in the history of polio eradication – a 12-month period without any case of polio being recorded. This date marks the unprecedented progress in India and is an endorsement of the effectiveness of the polio eradication strategies and their implementation in India. Cases in 2011                            …