Polio Virus grips Africa again, cases detected in Mozambique & Malawi
News 24
The case detected in Mozambique is the country’s first since 1992. The child who was infected began experiencing paralysis in late March. The genomic sequencing linked the strain to the on that had been circulating in Pakistan in 2019. It was like the case reported in Malawi this year.
New Delhi: Poliovirus type 1 outbreak has been declared in Mozambique on May 18. This happened after a child in the country’ north-eastern Tete Province had contracted the disease. This led to the recognition of second polio case in Africa this year. This is followed by an outbreak in Malawi in February.
The case detected in Mozambique is the country’s first since 1992. The child who was infected began experiencing paralysis in late March. The genomic sequencing linked the strain to the on that had been circulating in Pakistan in 2019. It was like the case reported in Malawi this year.
However, the case reported in Mozambique and Malawi are not impacting the Africa’s wild-poliovirus certification as the strain is not indigenous. It must be noted that Africa had already been declared free of indigenous wild polio virus.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa said that, “The detection of another case of wild polio virus in Africa is greatly concerning, even if it’s unsurprising given the recent outbreak in Malawi. However, it shows how dangerous this virus is and how quickly it can spread. We are supporting southern African governments to step up the polio fight including carrying out large-scale, effective vaccination campaigns to halt the virus and protect children from its damaging impact.”