Unicef to look into ‘polio-like’ disease

BAREILLY: After TOI reported on June 20 that more than 200 stool samples from children aged between five and 15 years showing polio-like symptoms had been sent for testing to the Central Pathological Laboratory, Mumbai, a team of senior officials from the health department and Unicef is set to visit the city for an inquiry.
The team will arrive here on June 27.Sources say the World Health Organisation, expressing concern, had urged the government to conduct an inquiry.
Additional director Subodh Sharma of the health department of the state government, however, said testing of samples was a routine affair:
“The officials are free to conduct a reality check on measures taken to prevent outbreak of polio. Right now, reports of 170 of the 208 samples sent for testing have turned out negative.
“The results of 38 samples are awaited. The process of collection of samples of suspected polio cases is a regular feature. There is no cause for panic – we maintain strict vigilance.”
Although stool samples of 170 children tested negative for polio, doctors said they were suffering from a condition called Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP), a disease which comes with symptoms akin to the onset of polio.
Meanwhile, thousands of children under five years of age missed their dose of the polio vaccine at Faridpur tehsil after staff at the community health centre failed to provide ice to freeze the vaccine as refrigerators failed when the power supply was cut off.
The vaccine is administered free of cost, under Operation Indradhanush.
The team visiting the city will be led by joint secretary Anshu Prakash of the Union health ministry and comprise also principal secretary Arvind Kumar of the UP health department.
There will be Unicef consultants accompanying the officials.
Besides taking stock of health facilities in the district, the team will check on availability of medicines and equipment at government hospitals. The condition of inmates of the government mental hospital will also be inspected, Subodh Sharma said.