After India became polio-free by early this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) authorities began inspection of current status of prevalence of the disease in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh.
“The WHO is checking whether any new polio cases are being reported in Andhra Pradesh. The inspection also looks into claims by the government authorities who are part of the effort to prevent polio,” WHO Surveillance Medical Officer for Coastal Andhra Districts Z. Sarath Babu told The Hindu . Mr. Sarath Babu and his team is visiting four coastal districts – Krishna, Guntur, West Godavari and Prakasam – to study the ground realities on the prevalence and eradication of polio.
“In 2014, the medical reports and necessary samples of the 156 children (below 15 years old) who were diagnosed with paralytic stroke in these four coastal districts have been sent to Chennai-based Kings Institute of Preventive Medicine (KIPM) to ascertain whether anyone of them is infected with polio. None of the cases was reported positive,” added Mr. Sarath Babu. The KIPM was accredited by the WHO.
WHO guidelinesThe WHO also made mandatory to produce Polio Vaccination Certificate at the Indian Embassy for those who visit countries with polio or return to India from those respective countries.
Pentavalent vaccineThe WHO is also inspecting war footing measures taken by the Andhra Pradesh government to introduce Pentavalent vaccine in the State by January, 2015. “The WHO is keenly monitoring the training and guidance being given to the medical and health staff in administering of the vaccine among the children,” Mr. Sarath Babu told The Hindu .
The vaccine contains five individual vaccines conjugated in one intended to actively protect infants from five potentially deadly diseases – DTP, Hepatitis –B and HiB (Haemophilus Influenzae). The vaccine has already arrived in Hyderabad for vaccination programme in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states.
