Polio rumour: 54,000 children miss
Bangalore Dec 23: Rumours of death and illness due to the polio immunisation through SMSs and rumours spread like wild fire and parents detained from taking their children to administer polio drops.
This mass hysteria has hindered the polio immunisation programme in the state as well as in Chennai. In Bangalore 54,000 children missed the administration of drops from the urban area alone.
In concern with children who missed out the drops, the health department officials on Monday, went door to door campaign to administer the drops and received a strict 'No' from the parents.
The
officials
declared
that
no
child
out
of
the
60
lakh
immunised
across
the
state
on
Sunday,
Dec
20
had
fallen
sick.
They
asked
the
parents
not
to
give
their
ears
to
such
rumours.
What
started
it
all?
According
to
the
health
department
officials,
the
trigger
for
the
rumours
was
a
flash
on
a
Tamil
television
channel
(about
the
death
of
a
child
in
Erode).
Later,
people
warned
each
other
about
the
report
which
was
aired
on
the
TV
channel.
Even
on
Monday,
Dec
22
parents
seemed
to
be
worried
and
rushed
to
hospital
to
inquire
about
the
administered
polio
drops.
Bowring hospital doctors filed a complaint against the crowd as well as local television which broadcast the false reports of polio drive. However, many people agreed it was rumour.
OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)