Despite being administered polio drops, more and more children in the capital are being diagnosed with the debilitating disease. Four children in Delhi, who have been diagnosed with polio, were also given polio drops several times. So what’s going wrong? The Delhi government says the infection is being brought in from outside.
“It’s a setback for us. The infection has come from western Uttar Pradesh where there have been many cases, and because of high mobility, they carry the infection here,” said P K Hota, Union Health Secretary.
From 66 fresh polio cases across India last year, there’s been a huge jump to 416 cases so far in 2006. The government is calling it an outbreak.
Experts say the oral polio vaccine isn’t 100 per cent effective, so some children can get it despite immunisation.