2023-09-21 13:58:40
Kyiv took this important step – stopping the transmission of the virus that threatened the lives and future of its children and preventing its spread to other countries – despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The virus, detected in October 2021, led to the declaration of an emergency situation in the affected oblasts (regions of Ukraine), but health authorities have now managed to contain it. A situation greatly complicated by the war, explains Hans Kluge, Regional Director for Europe at theOMS.
A public health success despite war-related challenges
“Despite the unprecedented challenges, the measures taken by the Ukrainian Ministry of Public Health to stem the spread of the virus within Ukraine and across borders are admirable,” added the WHO Regional Director. “Stopping the spread of poliovirus in the midst of a devastating war is a major achievement and a clear demonstration of the political commitment at the highest levels of the Ukrainian government to the well-being of its people.”
According to the UN World Health Agency, the virus, which is believed to have originated in Pakistan, but which had also been observed in Tajikistan, was detected for the first time in the fall of 2021 in a child. In December, a second child became paralyzed and 19 other close contacts tested positive, without developing symptoms.
In October 2021, the detection of poliovirus in Ukraine triggered the declaration of a public health emergency in the affected oblasts where the virus was initially detected. Immediately following the spread of the virus, task forces were deployed to the affected regions with the help of experts from WHO and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
Continued work to prevent polio and other preventable diseases
In December, children aged six months to six years who had not received the necessary doses were vaccinated once morest the virus through a large-scale campaign that began in February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine .
Despite the many difficulties encountered in the implementation of the national action plan to combat outbreaks, no new detections of poliovirus have been made following December 2021.
“The outbreak is now over, but our work to prevent polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases in Ukraine continues despite all obstacles. As long as polio remains a global threat, Ukraine will remain vulnerable,” Dr. Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine, said in a statement. Kyiv intends to maintain high routine vaccination coverage throughout the country.
Note that the polio virus is transmitted through water or food contaminated with human feces. It mainly affects children and can cause paralysis.
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