DOH mulling to expand anti-polio program

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is looking at expanding the anti-polio vaccination programs to all regions of the country after a one-year-old boy from Nueva Eciija got infected.

At a press conference, DOH Assistant Secretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire yesterday said they are waiting for recommendations of the Technical Advisory Group of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the possible expansion of immunization activities.

“We are waiting for the WHO’s recommendation on the next step to take since we have identified another case in Region 3,” she noted.

The DOH is set to do more rounds of vaccination in Metro Manila from Feb. 17 to March 1 and in all regions of Mindanao from Feb. 24 to March 8. 

The boy from Cabanatuan CIty in Nueva Ecija became the 17th case of polio in the country.

His condition was detected as part of the DOH’s surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), a condition that affects the nervous system, especially the area of the spinal cord.

AFP can be caused by many diseases, including polio.

The DOH also found that environmental samples from Butuanon River in Cebu have tested positive for the poliovirus.

According to Vergeire, the presence of the virus indicates that the risk of children contracting polio is there.

“While waiting for the decision from WHO, their recommendation is to strenghthen surveillance of AFP,” she maintained.