Bihar second highest in polio afflictions after UP

Kishanganj, Sep 3 (UNI) The much hyped pulse polio campaign with bollywood stars reminding the viewers to rush to the polio centres for free polio drops for their infants has not turned out to be a great success as about 244 cases has been reported this year.

During 2005 about 66 polio cases were detected in the country, a major slump from the 134 cases in 2004, which was again less than the 225 in 2003.

Oddly,the dubious distinction of highest incidences of 223 cases have been hogged by Uttar Pradesh with Bihar yanking the second place with with 15 cases.

Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttaranchal, Haryana and Maharashtra reported one case each, official sources informed.

The ugly facet of pulse polio campaign stared into the eyeballs of the campaigners at the meeting of District Task Force at Kishanganj on Friday.

Though, the district heaved sigh of relief with nil cases, the neighbouring Purnia district reported one case.

The district wise polio affliction cases are as follows-- Patna and East Champaran districts -4 cases each, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga districts- 2 cases each and West Champaran and Sheohar -one case each, according to Surveillance Medical Officer of World Health organisation.

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