The resurgence of polio in countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Israel has had the Indian government worried, which is now considering to make it mandatory for the travellers from these countries visiting India to carry a polio vaccine certificate. The Union health ministry is likely to take up this matter with the ministry of external affairs (MEA) soon. The ministry is also considering to put up polio vaccination booths at the International airports to ensure that visitors are duly vaccinated for polio before they enter the country.
“The sudden spurt in the cases of polio in these countries has been a cause of concern for all of us. Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) has in their recent advisory suggested to keep a strict vigil on the air route. We are likely to take up this matter with the MEA so that Indian missions abroad can be engaged in the process. We are also contemplating to put up boots at our International airports,” a senior official in the ministry said.
The polio eradication programme in India has so far been well on track as a result of which India achieved a significant feat in 2012 after the WHO struck off India from the list of polio endemic countries, an indication that India has stopped indigenous polio transmission. The number of polio cases in India saw a steep fall with one case in 2011, 42 cases in 2010 and 741 in 2009. If the progress continues India will be certified polio-free as soon as 2014. Over `14,000 crores have so far been invested in the polio-eradication programme. “We have a lot at stake. In fact the world has a lot at stake. These are all such countries which remained polio free and this sudden re-infection has taken adults also in its grip. If this comes to India the control will be very difficult as India is a large country. We are going to hold consultations with the stakeholders to ensure that nothing goes wrong. Though this will not affect Polio-free status but we need to be vigilant,” added the official.
So far only Pakistan, Nigeria, Afghanistan are the few countries that are still “endemic”. Earlier even experts in a reputed journal by Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said that despite the absence of Wild Polio Virus cases in India since January 2011, the risk remains for WPV circulation. According to experts India has served as a reservoir for importation to neighbouring countries.