WHO Declared – Africa Has Set Itself Free of Wild Polio virus
- World Health Organization (WHO)– African region is free of wild Poliovirus.
- After smallpox 40 years ago, this is the eradication of the second virus from the continent.
The independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for the end of polio has officially declared on Tuesday that the World Health Organization (WHO) African region has set itself completely free of wild poliovirus after decades of vaccination campaigns.
This is a historic day for Africa where they have been successful in meeting the certification criteria for wild polio eradication. There are no cases of the wild poliovirus reported in the region for four years. The last case of wild poliovirus in the region was detected in the year 2016.
“This is a momentous milestone for Africa. Now future generations of African children can live free of wild polio,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
If we talk about the virus, it is a disease that is caused by three different strains of poliovirus that sometimes attacks the nerve cells in the spinal cord which causes partial or complete paralysis. A person can remain permanently disabled or die from the condition.
People can get caught by polioviruses through any contact with an infected person, or through contaminated food, water, and objects that come in contact with the mouth. The virus can even spread by person to person when they cough or sneezes.
The region is currently relieved by the situation that they can live free of wild poliovirus. This is an eradication of the second virus from Africa as 40 years ago, the continent was also successful in eradicating smallpox.
“The expertise gained from polio eradication will continue to assist the African region in tackling COVID-19 and other health problems that have plagued the continent for so many years and ultimately move the continent toward universal health coverage. This will be the true legacy of polio eradication in Africa,” said Dr. Moeti.
Grateful to the dedication of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative that the cases of polio have reduced by 99.9% since the year of 1988, bring the world together and closer than ever before by ending polio.
