Kenya has vaccinated more than 5 million children against polio. — Reuters pic
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Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Kenya, which has declared a polio outbreak a public emergency, vaccinated more than 5 million children to curb the spread of the viral disease after a spate of cases in eastern Africa, the United Nations said.
While Kenya has confirmed 14 cases of polio since May 14 when the first case in almost three decades was detected, none have been recorded in the past four months, according to the UN Children’s Fund. The outbreak in the region has been the worst in neighbouring Somalia, where vaccination efforts have been prevented by a more than two-decade-long civil war.
“Kenya remains at risk and needs to continue to respond aggressively and remain vigilant to ensure high population immunity,” Unicef said in an e-mailed responses to questions. Unicef targets immunising 8.3 million Kenyans under five years of age.
As of October 17, about 175 polio cases were reported in Somalia, six in the Somali region of Ethiopia and three suspected cases in South Sudan, according to Unicef.
Kenya,
which has declared a polio outbreak a public emergency, vaccinated more
than 5 million children to curb the spread of the viral disease after a
spate of cases in eastern Africa, the United Nations said.
While Kenya has confirmed 14 cases of polio since May 14 when the first
case in almost three decades was detected, none have been recorded in
the past four months, according to the UN Children’s Fund. The outbreak
in the region has been the worst in neighbouring Somalia, where
vaccination efforts have been prevented by a more than two-decade-long
civil war.
“Kenya remains at risk and needs to continue to respond aggressively and
remain vigilant to ensure high population immunity,” Unicef said in an
e-mailed responses to questions. Unicef targets immunising 8.3 million
Kenyans under five years of age.
As of October 17, about 175 polio cases were reported in Somalia, six in
the Somali region of Ethiopia and three suspected cases in South Sudan,
according to Unicef.
- See more at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/world/article/kenya-vaccinates-5-million-against-polio-amid-health-emergency1#sthash.FNf3gf4c.dpuf