Four more polio cases reported in Horn of Africa outbreak

In an update to the polio outbreak sweeping across the Horn of Africa, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has reported four new cases wild poliovirus 1 (WPV1) last week.

Horn of Africa
Public domain image/ Lexicon at the English Wikipedia project

Of the four new cases, three from Somalia and one from Kenya. The total number of WPV1 cases for 2013 in the Horn of Africa is 179 (163 from Somalia, 14 from Kenya and one from Ethiopia).

The polio outbreak in Somalia began with its first case in April. These are the first wild poliovirus cases reported in Somalia since 2007.

Both Nigeria and Pakistan, two of the three remaining polio endemic countries, reported new polio cases during the same week.

Worldwide, there has been 256 polio cases reported globally. 78 of the cases coming from the three endemic countries–Pakistan (28), Afghanistan (4) and Nigeria (46).

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It invades the nervous system, and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. The virus enters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck and pain in the limbs. One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs). Among those paralysed, 5% to 10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized, according to the World Health Organization.

Polio mainly affects children under five years of age.

There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, can protect a child for life.

For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page

Looking for a job in health care? Check here to see what’s available