New cases of polio prompts further immunization drive in Bangladesh

Dhaka, August 4, 2006: Only one month after completing the third polio National Immunization Days (NIDs), the Government of Bangladesh has ordered a further three polio NIDs this year in response to at least 10 new cases of polio detected in the country. 

The first of these new NIDs will be held on Sunday 6th August and aims to immunize 22 million children under the age of 5.  In November and December this year the Government will hold two more polio NIDS.

The Government has also announced that there will be 4 rounds of polio NIDs in 2007 and 2 rounds each year after that until bordering India is polio-free.

“The decision of the Government of Bangladesh to continue the rounds of NIDs in response to the importation of the poliovirus and the occurrence of new polio cases is in line with WHO’s recommendation for polio eradication.  Global and regional experience over the past two years has shown that additional rounds are required to feel confident of having stopped the circulation of the virus,” said Dr Duangvadee Sungkhobol, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh had been polio-free for five years before the first case was confirmed in March of this year.  That one case sparked the three NIDS which reached 96% of the 22 million children aged under five.  This, however, has not stopped the outbreak with a further 10 cases being confirmed in the past month. 

The Government of Bangladesh, along with partners including WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), decided further NIDs were necessary.  Each NID will be followed by a four day house-to-house search for any children that may have missed out.

“As disappointing as it is that the first three NIDS didn’t stop the spread of polio in Bangladesh, it is an achievement that the Government and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative can work together to launch another three national immunization days in a short period of time. We are committed to working together until Bangladesh is once again polio-free,” said Louis-Georges Arsenault, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) works with governments around the world to eradicate polio and is spearheaded by WHO, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UNICEF.  The GPEI has reduced the incidence of polio by more than 99% since its launch in 1988, from 350,000 annual cases to 1,950 cases in 2005. 

As in the previous campaigns GPEI will help procure 22 million doses of vaccine and will be involved in the massive preparations which include orienting and training health workers and field-based volunteers.  It will also be instrumental in raising awareness through the electronic media, interpersonal communication, distribution of communication materials and door-to-door searches for left out children.

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