Question : POLIO CASES



(a) the number of polio cases reported in the country during the current year as on date, State-wise and Union Territory-wise;

(b) the reasons for the rise in polio cases in the country;

(c) whether a large number of children in the country are still vulnerable to polio despite the repeated rounds of vaccination; and

(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government to prevent the recurrence of polio cases in the country?

Answer given by the minister


THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE(SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) The number of polio cases reported in the country during the calendar year 2009 and 2010, State/UTwise and Union Territory-wise is given at Annexure.

(b) Convergence of a number of risk factors such as low routine immunization coverage, poor environmental sanitation, higher incidence of acute diarrhorial disease etc favour virus transmission and interfere with effectiveness of oral polio vaccine.

(c) 33 out of 35 States / UTs are free from indigenous polio virus circulation. Indigenous transmission of polio is limited to high risk areas of UP and Bihar. Only one genetic cluster is presently in circulation as compared to 9 in 2006. However as long as poliovirus transmission continues in any part of the country, children under five years of age are vulnerable to getting the disease.

(d) The following steps are being undertaken to prevent the recurrence of polio cases in the country :-

# Two national Immunization Days (NIDs) are conducted every year in which 172 million children upto the age of 5 years are vaccinated.

# Sub National Immunization Days (SNIDs) are conducted 5 to 7 times in a year in UP, Bihar, Delhi, Mumbai and other areas to cover high risk / migratory population.

# During the campaigns,children at bus stands, market places, major congregation points, railway stations and moving trains are vaccinated to immunize the population on move.

# New born tracking is done to vaccinate them during the polio campaigns.

# Mop Up rounds are conducted in and around the area where a polio case is detected.

# Special plan has been chalked out to vaccinate children in high risk areas of Kosi Riverine Belt.

# Polio Immunization as carried out during important events such as Chaath, festivals and other gatherings.

# Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine has been introduced from January 2010 for the high risk areas.