All posts tagged: polio

Israel’s military assault may trigger a polio epidemic in Gaza if vaccines can’t reach people

Israel’s military assault may trigger a polio epidemic in Gaza if vaccines can’t reach people

Published by Sam

During the recent Democratic National Convention in Chicago, half a dozen doctors assembled to protest the public health crisis caused by Israel’s ongoing military onslaught in Gaza. While the physicians spoke in large part of bombs, gunfire and the other direct consequences of armed conflict, the region faces another serious threat: poliovirus, which has been detected in Gaza wastewater since July. “Polio could cause a serious epidemic in Israel, the region and beyond. Polio and other infectious diseases know no boundaries.” Partially conceding to the humanitarians’ outrage, Israel announced on Thursday that it will implement a series of pauses in fighting throughout September to distribute vaccines. Perhaps Israel had no choice; the reality of a variant type 2 poliovirus outbreak in Gaza had the whole region bracing for a public health crisis. Israel has already killed at least 40,000 people, including 16,000 children. Israel’s military campaign began following the Hamas-led October 7th attack killed around 1,200 Israeli people, including many civilians and children. But a major epidemic would only make things worse and could potentially spread …

Vaccines saved more than 50 million lives in Africa over 50 years, research shows

Vaccines saved more than 50 million lives in Africa over 50 years, research shows

Published by skeptic

Vaccines have saved more than 50 million lives in Africa over the past half century, new research shows.  For every death averted, close to 60 years of life were saved on average, according to a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO). The vaccines have been made available through the WHO’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation initiative, which was launched in 1974 to deliver life-saving vaccines to children across the world’s poorest countries. The programme, which is supported by the UN and Gavi, an organisation dedicated to improving vaccine access, initially offered six different types of jabs. Today, that number now stands at 13. Notable achievements have been made through the initiative, including a reduction in measles deaths, with an estimated 19.5 million deaths averted over the last 22 years, the WHO report said. Africa has also witnessed a sharp decline in meningitis deaths, by up to 39 per cent in 2019 compared to 2000.  Maternal and neonatal tetanus has nearly been eliminated, while the continent was declared free of indigenous wild poliovirus in 2022. …

Child left paralysed as Pakistan records its first polio case of the year

Child left paralysed as Pakistan records its first polio case of the year

Published by skeptic

Despite significant advancements in the global effort to eradicate polio, both Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to grapple with sporadic outbreaks, particularly in regions with disrupted access to healthcare services.  Vaccination campaigns in Balochistan, the largest region in Pakistan, have been disrupted in recent months by security threats and the enforced repatriation of Afghan nationals. Dr Hamid Jafari, Director of Polio Eradication at the WHO, remains confident that the disease can be kept under control with sustained vaccination efforts. “These cases tell us that the virus is still surviving and it is surviving in communities where we still have unvaccinated children,” said Dr Hamid Jafari, Director of Polio Eradication at the WHO. “We are now dealing with one last type of wild poliovirus in these two countries. Endemic circulation is actually restricted in very limited geographies in these two countries…so we really are in the final stages.”  New cases ‘not a set back’ Two of the three strains of wild poliovirus have already been eliminated – wild poliovirus type 2 was eradicated in 1999 and wild …

Global eradication of polio ‘tantalisingly close’ with UK urged to keep up funding | Polio

Global eradication of polio ‘tantalisingly close’ with UK urged to keep up funding | Polio

Published by skeptic

The world is “tantalisingly close” to eradicating polio – with no confirmed cases of wild polio anywhere so far this year. But experts warn that vaccination efforts – and funding – must not falter if the world is to rid itself of a human infectious disease for the second time in history, after smallpox. There have been no reported cases of wild polio infection in people for the last 19 weeks. Figures from the World Health Organization reveal that the last confirmed cases were on the borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan in October and September 2023 respectively; these are the last nations on Earth where polio is endemic. “To have gone 19 straight weeks … is a long period to go without a single case, that’s why there is some hope [of eradication],” Gordon McInally, president of Rotary International, a founding partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), told the Observer. “All of us who are involved in this, every week we get an email giving us the updated figures … and every week when …

Paul Alexander, polio survivor in iron lung for over 70 years, dies at 78 after Covid diagnosis

Paul Alexander, polio survivor in iron lung for over 70 years, dies at 78 after Covid diagnosis

Published by skeptic

Paul Alexander, the man who lived inside an iron lung for over 70 years after contracting polio, died Monday after being hospitalized for Covid last month, his friends and family said. He was 78. Alexander’s death was announced on a GoFundMe set up to help him with finances. “I am so gratitude to everybody who donated to my brother’s fundraiser,” Philip Alexander said on the GoFundMe. “It allowed him to live his last few years stress-free. It will also pay for his funeral during this difficult time. It is absolutely incredible to read all the comments and know that so many people were inspired by Paul. I am just so grateful.” “His story traveled wide and far, positively influencing people around the world. Paul was an incredible role model that will continue to be remembered,” GoFundMe organizer Christopher Ulmer wrote on Tuesday. The cause of his death was not mentioned. Alexander, who lived in Dallas, Texas, was rushed to the hospital in late February after testing positive for Covid, according to his social media manager. He was released …

Polio Paul dies after living paralysed in a 7ft iron lung for more than 70 years | US | News

Polio Paul dies after living paralysed in a 7ft iron lung for more than 70 years | US | News

Published by skeptic

A polio survivor, known as “Polio Paul”, has died after living for more than 70 years with the help of an iron lung. Paul Alexander earned his nickname “the man in the iron lung” after being left paralysed by polio when he was just six, back in 1952, in Dallas, Texas. He almost lost his life before doctors saved him by using the 7ft iron lung. The miraculous machine kept him alive for more than seven decades. A note on his GoFundMe page shared this week confirmed that he died on Monday, March 11. The message reads: “Paul Alexander, ‘The Man in the Iron Lung’, passed away yesterday. After surviving polio as a child, he lived over 70 years inside of an iron lung.” The note also mentions how Paul never let his condition stop him from achieving great things. It says, “In this time Paul went to college, became a lawyer, and a published author. His story travelled wide and far, positively influencing people around the world.”, reports the Mirror. Praise was also given …

Third Round of Polio Vaccination Targets High-Risk Counties in Northeastern Kenya

Third Round of Polio Vaccination Targets High-Risk Counties in Northeastern Kenya

Published by skeptic

Nairobi —  A polio vaccination campaign that was planned for November but postponed due to heavy rains and floods is finally taking place in three high risk counties in the northeastern part of Kenya. This comes after 13 cases of the so-called circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (CVDPV2) were discovered last year in the area. This is the third round of polio vaccination targeting three high-risk counties of Mandera, Wajir and Garissa. The goal, according to Kenya’s ministry of health and its partners, is to reach about 750,000 children under the age of five. About 238,000 children ages 6 to 15 in certain areas will also be vaccinated. Aden Ibrahim, Garissa County director of health, explains. “The first case, the sample was collected in June 2023. It was a child which came from the Somalia side, later became sick and went to a health facility; they [child] were investigated because they were symptomatic, and they were confirmed as having a polio positive,” he said. Ibrahim said soon after, more cases were detected in some of …

Blast in Pakistan kills five police officers during polio vaccination drive | Police News

Blast in Pakistan kills five police officers during polio vaccination drive | Police News

Published by Sam

Bomb blast kills at least five police officers deployed to protect polio vaccination workers in northwestern Pakistan. Islamabad, Pakistan – At least five police officers have been killed and nearly two dozen others wounded after an explosive device targeted their vehicle during a polio vaccination drive in northwestern Pakistan. Officials told Al Jazeera the blast took place early morning on Monday in Bajaur, a tribal district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province neighbouring Afghanistan, when Pakistan began its latest round of the vaccination campaign. Five of those wounded were in critical condition and have been shifted to the provincial capital, Peshawar, about 133km (82 miles) south of Bajaur. “The blast took place early in the morning when the police team went out for the polio vaccination drive. We have shifted most of the injured to local hospital in Bajaur while critical patients were sent to Peshawar,” Bilal Faizi, spokesperson for the provincial rescue services, told Al Jazeera. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. In recent years, the Pakistan Taliban, also known by the …