World facing polio health emergency

(BBC) The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the spread of polio is an international public health emergency.

Outbreaks in Asia, Africa and Middle East are an "extraordinary event" needing a co-ordinated "international response", the agency says.

It recommends citizens of affected countries travelling abroad carry a vaccination certificate.

It says Pakistan, Cameroon, and Syria "pose the greatest risk of further wild poliovirus exportations in 2014."

The WHO recorded 417 cases of polio worldwide for the whole of 2013. For 2014, it had already recorded 68 cases by 30 April - up from 24 in the same period last year.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-27284389


-- BBC 2014-05-06

And just three weeks ago:

WHO declares Thailand and other 10 Asian countries polio-free

It might behoove governments to require immunization certificates of travelers from Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan (three countries that have seen a resurgence, thanks to recent political upheavals that disrupted vaccination programs).

And just three weeks ago:

WHO declares Thailand and other 10 Asian countries polio-free

It might behoove governments to require immunization certificates of travelers from Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan (three countries that have seen a resurgence, thanks to recent political upheavals that disrupted vaccination programs).

Or maybe the resurgence is due to increased poverty, unclean food and water, and poor sanitary conditions as a result of the political upheaval. Do you have any specific information as to why it would be due to a disruption in vaccination program?

Do you have any specific information as to why it would be due to a disruption in vaccination program?

Isn't it pretty self evident?

And just three weeks ago:

WHO declares Thailand and other 10 Asian countries polio-free

It might behoove governments to require immunization certificates of travelers from Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan (three countries that have seen a resurgence, thanks to recent political upheavals that disrupted vaccination programs).

Or maybe the resurgence is due to increased poverty, unclean food and water, and poor sanitary conditions as a result of the political upheaval. Do you have any specific information as to why it would be due to a disruption in vaccination program?

It seems that the Taliban are murdering the medical personnel who give the vaccinations, particularly around the Pakistan/Afghanistan border areas. They are spreading the rumour that the vaccinations are actually a sterilisation program devised by the West.

Check my math:

417 cases in all of 2013 is an average of 35 cases a month (rounded up slightly).

In the first 4 months of 2014 there have been 68 cases recorded, which is an average of 17 cases per month.

17 cases per month in 2014 is less than 35 cases per month in 2013, not more. So casses of polio are decreasing by about 50%, not increasing.

This is not a reason to avoid precautions, but the BBC needs to do some proofreading.

Check my math:

417 cases in all of 2013 is an average of 35 cases a month (rounded up slightly).

In the first 4 months of 2014 there have been 68 cases recorded, which is an average of 17 cases per month.

17 cases per month in 2014 is less than 35 cases per month in 2013, not more. So casses of polio are decreasing by about 50%, not increasing.

This is not a reason to avoid precautions, but the BBC needs to do some proofreading.

You missed the point. There is no reason to believe that the rate of contraction of polio is constant throughout the year. Like other diseases it is seasonal, and of course as it is contagious, as more people get it, more people catch it, that is the rate of contagion increases with time, or accelerates.

If you assume the rate of catching polio is constant then last year if 24 people caught it in the first four months, then the yearly total should have been 24/4 X 12= 72. But it was 417, so it is obvious that contagion rate is not constant.

The point of the BBC report was: in the first 4 months of last year 24 people caught polio. In the first four months of this year the number was 68. This IS worrying.

We had several incidences here in israel and explanation was the change in type of vaccine so entire age group left un protected...also water hygiene hand washing after diaper changing of babies

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

And just three weeks ago:

WHO declares Thailand and other 10 Asian countries polio-free

It might behoove governments to require immunization certificates of travelers from Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan (three countries that have seen a resurgence, thanks to recent political upheavals that disrupted vaccination programs).

Or maybe the resurgence is due to increased poverty, unclean food and water, and poor sanitary conditions as a result of the political upheaval. Do you have any specific information as to why it would be due to a disruption in vaccination program?

Sorry dude, none of the above. Do some research and you'll find the resurgence is due to radical Muslims actively stopping immunization wherever and however they can. If there's a problem in the world, chances are Muslims causing it.

Two of my best friends in California had polio. I wouldn't want anyone getting it, not even children of radical Muslims.