Five new polio cases reported in Bihar

Patna, Apr 8 (UNI) Bihar Health Minister Chandra Mohan Rai today called upon the people to cooperate with the government for eradication of polio with the discovery of five new cases in the state.

Before flagging off the third phase of the ongoing special polio eradication drive, Mr Rai told reporters here that with five new cases out of 17 reported this year in Bihar, the malady has thrown a big challenge ahead of the mission.

The new cases of polio had been reported from a particular class of the society which was refusing to administer polio vaccines, he admitted.

Mr Rai said polio vaccines were completely safe and were being administered only after its scientific tests. He said assistance of religious leaders and celebrities have been taken to convince the people.

He said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was personally monitoring the special drive under which the vaccine was being administered to the children at the transit points too.

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