Thursday, May 23, 2013
The World Health Organization says the Horn of Africa is experiencing an
outbreak of polio with cases confirmed in Kenya and Somalia.
WHO said Wednesday that a 4-year-old girl near the Dadaab refugee camp
in Kenya and two of her contacts tested positive for polio, the first
confirmed cases in Kenya since July 2011. A case in Somalia was
confirmed earlier this month.
In response, a vaccination campaign reaching 440,000 children began May
14 in Somalia. A second round of vaccinations is planned and will
include parts of Kenya.
WHO said the risk to neighboring countries is very high due to population movements.
Global health leaders last month unveiled a six-year plan to eradicate
polio, which is endemic in only three countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan
and Nigeria.