New Polio Virus Outbreak Spreads in China
The World Health Organization confirmed the outbreak of polio in China, a first since 1999, has caused one death and nine others hospitalized.
The contagion of Poliomyelitis, an acute viral disease that can cause flaccid paralysis and even death started in Hotan and Bazhou Prefectures in western region of Xinjiang province.
China's Ministry of Health has deployed a medical team to the two Prefectures to help the 10 patients, four of whom are young adults and six are under three years old.
A report from CNN said the evidence suggests the polio virus is genetically linked to the polio outbreak in Pakistan, a bordering neighbor of Xinjiang. The entire nation of Pakistan has been devastated by a similar WPV1 strain.
The WHO issued a warning that the virus can spread out to other areas.
"Although other areas in China or other countries are not immediately at risk due to geographic distance to the affected province, the polio virus can travel great distances and find susceptible populations, no matter where they live," CNN quoted Helen Yu, a WHO represented in Beijing.
Minister Chen Zhu told media in a briefing that the Ministry has conducted a massive vaccination campaign since the first week of September and the campaign will continue to combat the deadly virus. Related reports from WHO confirmed more than 3.5 million Chinese children were given vaccination.
Helen Yu warned that the polio virus can invade any territory until it is defeated worldwide. An immunization from the virus is a way to prevent.