PNG’s first polio outbreak in 18 years as health services decline
ELEANOR AINGE ROY The Guardian
canada goose uk site SYDNEY The first cases of polio official canada goose outlet in Papua New Guinea in 18 years have been detected, with a canada goose outlet reviews six year old boy from the Morobe province the first confirmed case of the virus. canada goose uk site
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the impoverished island nation polio free in 2000, along with the rest of the western Pacific region. Only three other countries in canada goose outlet the world continue to battle the virus; Pakistan, Nigeria canada goose outlet uk and Afghanistan.
canada goose outlet vancouver So far the three cases are isolated to the Morobe Province, where polio vaccine canada goose outlet uk sale coverage is low, and only 61% of children have received canada goose jacket outlet the recommended three doses. WHO has assessed the risk of polio spreading to other countries as low, because canada goose outlet toronto factory travel in and out of the region is relatively limited. canada goose outlet vancouver
canada goose outlet store toronto In the weeks after the first canada goose outlet store case was confirmed, canada goose outlet black friday WHO deployed health workers for a “mop up” immunisation campaign, targeting children under the age of 15. To date, 845 children from the Lufa mountain settlement have been vaccinated. canada goose outlet store toronto
buy canada goose uk Water, sanitation and hygiene are serious challenges in the region, adding to the crisis of controlling the highly infectious virus which mainly affects young children. buy canada goose uk
canada goose jacket outlet uk Pascoe Kase, secretary of canada goose outlet canada the National Department of Health, said: “We are deeply concerned about this polio case in PNG, and the fact that the virus is circulating. canada goose jacket outlet uk
canada goose outlet florida “Our immediate priority is to respond and prevent more children from being infected.” canada goose outlet florida
canada goose parka outlet The Papua New Guinean government is now working closely with WHO and other organisations to begin a large scale immunisation campaign, as well as stepping up monitoring of vulnerable children. canada goose parka outlet
The virus spreads through faecal oral contamination, multiplies in the intestines, from where it spreads to the nervous system, causing paralysis.
canada goose outlet price Worldwide, cases of polio have decreased by over 99% in 30 years, largely the result of a co ordinated global canada goose outlet in usa health campaign to eradicate it. canada goose outlet price
canada goose outlet washington dc There is no cure for polio once contracted; it can be prevented only by a series of vaccinations during childhood. canada goose outlet washington https://www.canadagoosejacketonlines.ca dc
official canada goose outlet When a child is immunized with OPV, canada goose outlet store uk the weakened vaccine virus replicates in the intestine for a limited period, thereby developing immunity by building up antibodies. official canada goose outlet
canada goose factory outlet During this time, the vaccine virus is also excreted. In areas of inadequate sanitation, this excreted vaccine virus can spread in the immediate community (and this can offer protection to other children through ‘passive’ immunization), before eventually dying out. canada goose factory outlet
On rare occasions, if a population is seriously under canada goose outlet new york city immunized, an excreted vaccine virus can continue to circulate for an canada goose outlet sale extended period of time.
canada goose outlet location The longer it is allowed to survive, the more genetic changes it undergoes. In very rare instances, the vaccine virus can genetically change into a form that can paralyse this is what is known as a circulating vaccine derived poliovirus (cVDPV). canada goose outlet location
canada goose outlet winnipeg address It takes a long time for a cVDPV to occur. Generally, the strain will have been allowed to circulate in an un canada goose outlet online uk or under immunized population for a period of at least 12 months. canada goose outlet winnipeg address
canada goose outlet buffalo Circulating VDPVs occur when routine or supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) are poorly conducted and a population is left susceptible to canada goose outlet shop poliovirus, whether from vaccine derived or wild poliovirus. canada goose outlet buffalo
canada goose outlet london uk Hence, the problem is not with the vaccine itself, but low vaccination coverage. If a population is fully immunized, they will be protected against both vaccine derived and wild polioviruses canada goose outlet london uk.