Beledweyne — A polio outbreak in Somalia has claimed at killed at least 11 lives in Hiraan region of south central Somalia, Garowe Online reports.

Speaking on Puntland-based independent station Radio Garowe, the Director of Beledweyne General Hospital Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Khalif said "four people" died of Polio virus in Beledweyne General Hospital while "seven others" died in Moqokori town of Hiraan region due to the outbreak.

Dr. Ahmed added that WHO helped Beledweyne health centers in conducting vaccine exercises targeting children below five years "Since Beledweyne is the administrative capital, the vaccination campaign has began here and the immunization process will be extended to the rural areas and the regional districts".

The scale of the polio outbreak in Somalia seems to be growing as 71 cases were reported from southern Somalia and 11 of the victims perished in Hiraan region.

On 21 May, Puntland Ministry of Health announced that it will launch a door to door immunization campaign targeting children less than five years and that it put the entire health sector on standby due to the recently reported cases including two cases reported from Lasanod town of Sool region.

GAROWE ONLINE