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In order to avoid the risk of polio spreading into polio-free areas and to eliminate the chain of transmission, two sub-national immunization rounds will be implemented on 25th September, 2005 and on 20th November, 2005, covering the entire states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, West Bengal, Jharkhand and 3 districts of Maharashtra viz. Mumbai, Thane, Raigarh, 4 districts of Uttranchal, 2 districts of Haryana, 3 districts of Madhya Pradesh and 3 districts of Rajasthan. No child under 5 years of age will be left unimmunised during these rounds.
Significant success has been achieved in reducing number of polio cases in the country ever since the initiative to eradicate polio was started in 1995. As against 1600 cases in 2002, only 134 cases were detected in 2004. There has been 92% decline in Polio cases recorded between 2002 and 2004. The geographical spread has also declined from 159 districts in 2002 to 87 in 2003. By the year 2004, the virus could be restrained to only 43 districts mainly in Western Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Of the 3 types of polio causing viruses, type 2 virus has already been eliminated in 1999. During 2004 and 2005, type 3 virus has been restrained and is limited to 4 districts (Moradabad, Rampur, Shajahanpur and Bareilly) in Western Uttar Pradesh. The P1 type of virus is predominate and is the chief cause of poliomyelitis.
During 2005 (as on 15th September), only 30 cases have been confirmed. Out of this, 15 cases were detected during January and February, which are the tail end cases of the last year’s transmission, and 15 cases from March, 2005.
EK/BKS/MK.
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