The Department of Health (DoH) confirmed Thursday the “re-emergence” of polio disease in the country, 19 years after the Philippines was declared polio-free.
“One polio case was confirmed in a three-year old girl from Lanao del Sur,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III in a press briefing.
According to DoH-Epidemiology Bureau Director Ferchito Avelino, the child is “now apparently well at home but with residual paralysis.”
“The onset of illness was in June 26 and the result of the stool exam which were collected from the child showed a vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2. The child was unvaccinated against polio,” said Avelino.
Duque also reported that poliovirus has been detected in samples taken from sewage in Manila and waterways in Davao. The said samples were tested by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and was verified by the Japan National Institute for Infectious Diseases and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“A single confirmed polio-case of vaccine-derived polio-virus type 2 or two positive environmental samples that are genetically linked isolated in two different locations is considered an epidemic in a polio free country,” said the health chief.
To note, the Philippines was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization in 2000.
Polio is an infectious disease “which spreads rapidly,” said Duque.
“It can cause paralysis and, on rare occasions, can be fatal. There is no cure for polio. It can only be prevented with multiple doses of polio vaccines that have long been proven safe and effective,” the health chief furthered.
WHO SUPPORT
WHO Country Representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said that the organization is “deeply concerned” with the re-emergence of “vaccine-derived polio” in the country.
“On behalf of the WHO, we stand with the Department of Health and the Philippine government to respond to this outbreak,” he said.
“This is a sad situation… The WHO and UNICEF together with other partners fully prepared to support the government of the Philippines and the Department of Health, local government authorities in the response to the situation,” he added.
The health chief said that they are now preparing for the conduct of synchronized oral polio vaccinations starting in October. The vaccinations will be first conducted in National Capital Region, Davao City and Lanao Del Sur.
“[We are now] preparing all logistics and the vaccines supply. The WHO and UNICEF has committed to help us with the acquisition of vaccines needed for the campaign,” said Duque.
Duque then urged the parents, health workers, and local government units to fully participate in the synchronized polio vaccinations.
“It is the only way to stop the polio outbreak and protect your child against this paralyzing disease,” he said.
“Aside from immunization, we remind the public to practice good personal hygiene, wash their hands regularly, use toilets, drink safe water, and cook food thoroughly,” he added. (Analou de Vera)
