Over 8 million child to be vaccinated in Sudan – WHO

October 8, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — World Health Organisation (WHO) is set to launch new anti-polio campaign Sudan aiming to vaccinate 8.5 million Sudanese children.

The new campaign comes after 45 cases of polio are reported in the country.

“(We have) 40 cases in south Sudan and five reported in February and March in south Sudan,” acting WHO representative Salah Haithami told Reuters.

He further said the outbreak was under control and that U.N. agencies and the Sudanese authorities would begin to vaccinations on October 27.

Polio, also called poliomyelitis, is a viral and contagious illness that targets young children, spreading through contaminated food and water. It can paralyse sufferers within hours and cause death when breathing muscles are affected.

Sudan was free of polio until 2004 when the disease spread over the nearby border with Chad and discovered in Darfur.

In 2004-2006 an outbreak of polio spread from north Sudan causing 1,200 cases worldwide, sparking a $150 million emergency response.

(ST)