255 cases of polio virus detected this year in India

Kishanganj, Oct 9 (UNI) The scourge of polio continues to haunt the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh even as the battle for its total eradication made significant breakthroughs this year.

The surveillance medical officer (SMO) of the National Polio Surveillance Programme (NPSP), World Health Organisation (WHO), disclosed here today that altogether 255 cases of polio virus affliction (61 cases of P1 type and 194 cases of P3 type) were detected this year across the country as compared to a total of 667 cases from across 114 districts during last year.

Of the present 255 cases this year, Uttar Pradesh registered the maximum number of polio cases with 201 cases (20 cases of P1 and 181 cases of P3).

Meanwhile, Bihar registered 39 cases (30 cases of P1 and 9 cases of P3).

Five cases were reported from Andhra Pradesh, followed by three from Uttarakhand, two each from Harayana and Maharashtra and one each from Delhi, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

''P2 cases have virtually been eliminated and banished,'' the SMO disclosed.

The P1 polio virus is potentially more dangerous and serious than the others. Therefore, its outbreak in virulent epidemic form since last year has proved to be a cause of serious concern among the medical fraternity.

However, a concerted drive against polio has yielded rich dividends so far, the SMO said.

The sudden resurgence in P3 polio cases in Bihar was attributed to the overall flood situation throughout the state, he added.

Massive drives were being launched in 41 blocks of the state to combat the sudden eruption in P3 cases, he said.

Meanwhile, Sub Regional Team Leader (SRTL) Anjani Kumar said the though the districts of Purnia division were free from the polio virus at the moment, Madhepura and Saharsa were worst-afflicted with seven and six cases respectively.

Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Munger had registered three cases each and Samastipur, Bhagalpur, Supaul and Bhojpur reported two cases each while Begusarai, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Khagaria, Nalanda, Rohtas, Patna and Sitamarhi recorded one case each.

Kishanganj District Magistrate (DM) M Saravanan patted the medical officers for keeping the district free from polio for five consecutive years and motivated them to keep up the good work while Civil Surgeon I D Ranjan asked the doctors and vaccinators to take up the programme in all earnestness.

UNI