The final steps to be taken to eliminate worldwide POLIO

Polio has almost been eliminated from the world and just two countries remain endemic: Afghanistan and Nigeria, with cases also high in parts of Pakistan.

A new report considers how the final steps can be taken to eliminate the disease. Bethesda - According to the World Health Organization (WHO), polio is nearly eradicated, with the number of cases limited to a few hundred each year. Poliomyelitis (polio) is an acute, viral, infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route. In around one percent of infections, poliovirus spreads along certain nerve fiber pathways, preferentially replicating in and destroying motor neurons within the spinal cord, brain stem, or motor cortex. This leads to the development of paralytic poliomyelitis.

With global cases there are two of the remaining endemic countries: Afghanistan and Nigeria. Health agencies are taking steps to eliminate the virus from these territories. The main obstacle to this, according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is Pakistan.

The report argues that risks of importations from Pakistan continue to threaten the Middle East and Asia. The report goes on to assert that unless Pakistan makes a strong effort to control polio virus spread within its borders, then the global efforts to eradicate polio will be undermined.

In Pakistan, 93 polio cases were reported in 2013, compared with 58 cases in 2012. So far in 2014, 170 cases were reported (January–August) compared with 33 cases during the same period in 2013.

Moreover, the report concludes, every year that eradication of polio is delayed, this costs the United Nations up to $1 billion per year. The reasons for the problem at the Afghanistan and Pakistan border is attributed to conflict and lack of government action.

The way forward, the report argues, that the countries need to strengthen surveillance, increase cross border collaboration.

Comments

Enjoy the use of Condom this Valentine. Thailand tells citizens

Valentine is fast approaching and the Government of Thailand have decided to launch a campaign to help its citizens that are too shy to buy condoms. They will therefore distribute condoms in large quantities to the citizens in a campaign tagged "Condoms for Confidence". According to Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong of the Ministry of Public Health, ‎" ‎This valentine, there is a high tendency of people, most especially youths getting involved in unprotected sex". "Teenagers, especially, do not have to be embarrassed about buying condoms. The ‎s ociety also have to accept that teenage girls buy condoms, which is better than more teenage girls getting pregnant. We have to persuade Thais to accept condoms as a hygiene item in everyday life to protect against pregnancy and AIDS".

South Korea becomes first East Asian Country to Legalize Medical Marijuana

South Korea has become the first east Asian country to legalise medical cannabis in a surprising move to expand the treatment options for patients with epilepsy and other rare diseases in the conservative country. The country’s national assembly approved amending the Act on the Management of Narcotic Drugs on Friday to allow non-hallucinogenic doses of medical marijuana. Still, using weed even for medical purpose will be strictly controlled with patients required to apply to the Korea Orphan Drug Centre, a government body facilitating patient access to rare medicines, after receiving a doctor’s prescription. Approval will be granted on a case-by-case basis, according to the country’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. South Korea has some of the toughest rules on cannabis consumption with citizens prosecuted for using weed in other countries where recreational marijuana is legalised. Under the country’s anti-drug laws, smoking and trading marijuana remains illegal with th...

Robbers Rape Nurse in Lagos Hospital

The hospital | credits: Samson Folarin Some robbers have raided a Lagos hospital on Santa Maria Street, in the Egan, Igando area of Lagos State. It was learnt that after carting away valuables of patients, they also raped an 18-year-old auxiliary nurse in the hospital. The incident happened around 4am on Thursday. PUNCH Metro was told that it was the third time the robbers would attack the hospital in a year. It was learnt that the robbers stormed the hospital around 3am, scaling the fence before gaining entrance. They overpowered a 19-year-old security guard from Niger Republic, tied him with rope and locked him in a room before carrying out their operation. The staff on night duty were brutally attacked and wounded and when the robbers could not get enough money, they resorted to raping the teenage nurse in turns. A source said: "The girl was actually the one who went to the police station to report. She accused the management of the hospital of dereliction of duty and sai...

Daily Gister

Search This Blog