New Delhi, March 27
Surveillance and vigilance are necessary to ensure South-East Asia region remains polio-free, said the World Health Organization on the 11th anniversary of being certified polio-free on Thursday.
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease that largely affects children under 5 years of age. The highly transmissible virus invades the nervous system to cause paralysis.
In a historic milestone, 11 years ago on March 27, 2014, the WHO South-East Asia Region was certified as free of all types of wild polioviruses.
Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia stated that eradication of polio in the SE Asia region was a “daunting and uphill task” and “required relentless effort and innovative strategies”.
Lauding the efforts of health workers, Wazed said they “worked tirelessly to ensure that every child received vaccinations to protect against this debilitating disease”.
“We honour their contributions and celebrate the results of their hard work”.
Notably, India also eradicated polio, and the country was declared free of polio by the World Health Organization in 2014.
However, Wazed noted that the “work is not over” as the threat of poliovirus importation exists until polio is eradicated globally. She stressed the need to boost surveillance.