Date:26/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/26/stories/2007082651710300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Surveillance of cases with polio symptoms

Correspondent

Not all partial paralysis cases were polio, says medical officer

All the recent three cases covered by Pulse polio
People asked to give importance to hygiene

Kakinada: Strict surveillance has been kept on suspected incidence of polio, in view of the three fresh cases reported in and around Kakinada recently and many suspected cases coming to light in several parts of the district, especially in Tuni and Amalapuram areas during last week. Stools samples of the suspected polio cases have been sent for analysis to the National Polio Surveillance Project Regional Laboratory at Chennai a week ago and the reports are expected shortly.

Meanwhile the district administration has asked the medical and health authorities to take up measures to prevent spread of the disease. `We are awaiting laboratory analysis report on at least eight samples of suspected cases. Even if on case reports positive, we will consider it epidemic. Already the department has started special drive to prevent spread of the disease by creating awareness among people on the precautions to be taken.

The first round of polio mop-up programme with vaccine has been successfully carried out. The second mop-up campaign will be taken up on September 9, said Phanindra, district Immunization Officer.

Of the three polio cases reported recently, he said, the affected children were covered by Pulse polio programme. As such, he claimed the impact of the disease was not severe and they were recovering fast and able to walk. Stating that all the partial paralysis cases were not of polio, Dr Phanindra said many cases were attributed by experts to peculiar disease known as `Guillian Darre Syndrome’ and some might be due to meningitis.

As a preventive measure, he said, children would be immunised under the routine immunisation programme and the required doses of vaccine were kept ready at all the primary health centres and government hospitals.

He advised people to give importance to personal hygiene, improved sanitation and refrain from open defacation.

Dr Phanindra said the department was in constant touch with paediatricians all over the district to find out any paralysis cases among children so stools samples could be sent for analysis.