Deadly type 1 polio virus curtailed in UP; WHO chief meets Mayawat

Lucknow, Dec 3 (UNI) For the first time, transmission of the most virulent type 1 polio virus has been controlled in west Uttar Pradesh, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has claimed.

The region, one of the most endemic areas in the world, had reported five cases of P1 in 2007. The epicentre of the polio virus outbreak in 2006 which crippled 676 children in India was west UP which had 338 type 1 polio cases last year, the WHO said.

Significantly, Moradabad, the most endemic district of the region, has not reported any type 1 case for over a year, with the last case in September 2006.

While there was encouraging progress against the type 1 virus, there had been an increase in the cases of polio caused by the type 3 virus.

During a meeting here this afternoon, WHO Director General Margaret Chan and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, discussed plans to eradicate polio in the state and efforts to improve the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). The WHO chief ensured the Chief Minister of proper supply of vaccines required to counter the polio virus in west UP. There had been reports that the vaccine was in short supply in the area.

The WHO chief is in India to attend the 'New Delhi International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenzia'. This is her first visit to the state after assuming charge as WHO Director General.

Talking to mediapersons after meeting Ms Mayawati, Dr Chan said the Chief Minister had added the mothers' mortality rate and infant mortality rate monitoring in her divisional review meetings.

UNI