WHO: Spread of polio is an international public health emergency

The agency said that Pakistan, Cameroon, and Syria 'pose the greatest risk of further wild poliovirus exportations in 2014.'

16:33 06 May 2014

The World Health Organisation has said that the number of polio cases this year is alarmingly high. According to the figures released, there were 68 cases by April 30, which represent a 24per cent jump compared to the same period last year. For this reason, the WHO said that the spread of polio is now an international public health emergency. 

 

It added that outbreaks in Asia, Africa, and Middle East are an ‘extraordinary event’ needing a co-ordinated ‘international response.’ 

 

Polio, which mainly affects children under five years old, is caused by a virus transmitted through contaminated food and water before multiplying in the intestines. It can then invade the nervous system and cause paralysis in one in every 200 infections. It can also cause death within hours. 

 

In a statement, the agency said:  "The international spread of polio to date in 2014 constitutes an 'extraordinary event' and a public health risk to other states for which a co-ordinated international response is essential.” 

 

"If unchecked, this situation could result in failure to eradicate globally one of the world's most serious vaccine preventable diseases."