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News of Jan
6, 2007
Polio Case Detected in
Jammu
14 new cases in India
By Prashant K. Nanda
New Delhi, Jan 6
In a worrying development, Jammu and Kashmir has reported its first
case of polio after remaining free of the crippling disease for two
years even as 14 cases were detected across India in December-end.
With the new cases, the number of children afflicted with the
disease touched 624 in 2006 - a very high number compared to the 66
reported in 2005.
"It was the first case of polio from Jammu and Kashmir. In the last
week of December we detected the case in a five-year-old baby girl
in Jammu," said a top official of the National Polio Project who
declined to be named.
"The recent surge in the cases in north India is a cause of worry.
The first case from Jammu is a clear indication that the polio
strain is constantly covering new grounds," the official told IANS.
He said since both Pakistan and India have polio cases, the border
state might see more infections.
"India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria are the major source of
polio cases across the globe. And looking at the geographical
positioning of Jammu and Kashmir, the state has to stay alert on
this field," he said, adding that the immunization drive was quite
satisfactory in the state.
The National Polio Project is a joint collaboration of India and the
World Health Organization, set up with the aim to keep a tab on the
polio scenario in the country.
"Of the 14 new cases, eight were from Uttar Pradesh, two each from
Haryana and Bihar and one each from Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir,"
the official added.
Of the 624 cases reported in 2006, Uttar Pradesh accounted for 509
and Bihar 52 cases. The last case was reported from Varanasi in
Uttar Pradesh Dec 27.
"The rise in the polio cases was seen especially in
minority-dominated western Uttar Pradesh. The dense population and
poor hygienic conditions in several districts are contributing
heavily to the spread of the disease."
Health authorities said there was some lapse in the immunization
drive in 2005, which resulted in the resurgence of the disease last
year.
However, they argue that the renewed zest shown in the immunization
drive would yield results soon. "We hope see a reduction in the
number of fresh cases within the next couple of months."
Besides Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, cases reported from other states in
2006 include Haryana (18), Uttaranchal (13), Punjab (8), Delhi (6),
Maharashtra (5), Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh (3 each). Assam has
reported two cases.
One case each was
reported from Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand,
West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir.
In December, the capital reported its sixth case from a slum cluster
in Rohini. The strain was detected in an eight-month-old boy.
IANS
News of Jan
6, 2007
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