WHO South-East Asia region, home to a quarter of the world’s population was certified polio-free by WHO in 2014. But health experts at the WHO Regional Committee meeting today said the risk of re-emergence still looms large. Therefore, health experts advised South-East Asian member countries to take preventive measures and maintain high immunisation rates.
According to WHO, polio is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children. It invades the nervous system and causes paralysis. The virus is transmitted through contaminated food and water. Many infected people have no symptoms but they excrete the virus in their faeces, hence transmitting the infection to others. It can be prevented by immunisation.
Kinley Dem
Edited by Sonam Pem
