x

Malawi Declares Polio Outbreak

The first wild poliovirus case in Africa in more than five years has been detected in a young child in Malawi, the World Health Organization said on Thursday.

The Malawian health authorities have declared an outbreak of wild poliovirus type 1 after a case was detected in the capital Lilongwe, the WHO said.

Laboratory analysis showed that the detected strain is linked to one that has been circulating in Sindh Province in Pakistan. Polio remains endemic in Pakistan and its neighbour Afghanistan.

“As an imported case from Pakistan, this detection does not affect the African region’s wild poliovirus-free certification status,” the WHO said.

Africa was declared free of indigenous wild polio in August 2020 after eliminating all forms of wild polio. No polio cases had occurred on the continent for the past four years — the threshold for eradication.

“Following the detection of wild polio in Malawi, we’re taking urgent measures to forestall its potential spread,” the WHO’s Africa regional director Matshidiso Moeti said in a statement.

“Thanks to a high level of polio surveillance in the continent and the capacity to quickly detect the virus, we can swiftly launch a rapid response and protect children from the debilitating impact of this disease.”

The WHO said it was supporting Malawi in conducting a risk assessment and outbreak response, including extra vaccination.

Surveillance of the disease is being stepped up in neighbouring countries.

“The last case of wild poliovirus in Africa was identified in northern Nigeria in 2016 and globally there were only five cases in 2021. Any case of wild poliovirus is a significant event and we will mobilise all resources to support the country’s response,” said Dr Modjirom Ndoutabe, the WHO Africa region’s polio coordinator.

Poliomyelitis — the medical term for polio — is an acutely infectious and contagious virus that attacks the spinal cord and causes irreversible paralysis in children.

Poliovirus is typically spread in the faeces of an infected person and is picked up through contaminated water or food. It multiplies in the intestine.

While there is no cure for polio, vaccinating people to prevent them from becoming infected thus breaks the cycle of transmission.

The August 2020 declaration that Africa was free of the virus that causes polio was a landmark in a decades-long campaign to eradicate the notorious disease around the world.

The disease was endemic around the world until a vaccine was found in the 1950s, though this remained out of reach for many poorer countries in Asia and Africa until a major push in recent decades.

In 1996, there were more than 70,000 cases in Africa alone.

-AFP

Hot this week

Evaluation of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy in the Contemporary Era

By Daudu Agaba Andrew SamuelNigeria’s foreign policy has long...

Match fixtures

Tuesday 21 October 2025 Champions League17:45 BST BarcelonavOlympiacos 17:45 BST FC...

Dualization of Apo, Wasa Junction Is Tinubu’s Fulfilled Promise — Wike

By Joyce Remi-BabayejuThe FCT Minister Barr. Nysome Wike...

NAF Seeks Stronger Partnership with Journalists

The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, made this known during an interactive session with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council led by the Chairman, Ms. Grace Ike

CROSSJOF Felicitates Gov. Bassey Otu at 66

By Joyce Remi-BabayejuThe Cross River State...

Kogi State Polytechnic Urges Prosecution of Staff Over Alleged Salary Fraud

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaThe Management of Kogi State Polytechnic,...

North Central Development Commission Condoles with Senator Abba Moro Over Death of Son, Grandson

By Abel Zwanke, LafiaThe Managing Director and Chief Executive...

Outcry as WhatsApp Bans Nigerian Journalist’s MTN Line Without Warning or Clear Reason

By Achadu Gabriel, KadunaThere has been widespread outrage following...

KOSIEC Announces 2026 Local Government Council Elections in Kogi State

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaThe Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission...

KADMAM Advocates Improved Maternal Health, Declares “No Child Should Die at Birth”

By Achadu Gabriel, KadunaThe Co-chairman of the Kaduna Maternal...

Evaluation of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy in the Contemporary Era

By Daudu Agaba Andrew SamuelNigeria’s foreign policy has long...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img