Tabu Butagira
30 April 2008
Ugandans on the border with the DR Congo are now at higher risk of contracting the Wild Polio Virus, health authorities warned yesterday as the World Health Organisation confirmed the prevalence of the physically disabling disease in parts of neighbouring North-Kivu province.
"The Ministry of Health wishes to inform the general public that Uganda is under threat of importing the Wild Polio Virus (WPV) from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)," Dr Sam Zaramba, the director general of health services said.
Subsequently, leaders of Kanungu, Kisoro, Rukungiri, Kabale, Kasese, Bundibugyo, Ntungamo, Mbarara and Bushenyi districts - all in western Uganda, have been alerted to strengthen surveillance, reporting and immunisation to stem the possible spill over of the epidemic into Uganda. Polio or poliomyelitis is, according to online medical journals, a viral disease contracted orally, usually from hands contaminated with the stool of an infected person.
When the virus invades nerve cells of the brain or spinal cord, it results in paralysis of muscles that control swallowing/breathing, and renders a victim's limbs, legs and the body trunk flaccid.
The WHO confirmed outbreak of the virus in North Kivu's Rutschuru District on Friday and notified Ugandan officials. The Health Ministry has also announced immunisation days for the border areas in June or July this year.
Daily Monitor has learnt that DR Congo authorities will carry out mass polio immunisation campaigns next week. However, the government is urging parents to take children for the routine immunisation against the six killer diseases, including polio and ensure those who missed certain doses of the polio drug get covered.
Although not synonymous with every case, a polio patient may present short term symptoms like headache, tiredness, fever, stiff neck and back, and muscle pain.
Globally, polio is a diminishing disease, occurring more on the Indian subcontinent and parts of west and central Africa. Uganda has been free of the Wild Polio Virus since 1996 and was certified Polio-free in October 2006.
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