New polio outbreak hits China

Children are particularly vulnerable to the polio virus
Image from i2.cdn.turner.com/

Beijing (CNN) -- An outbreak of polio has been confirmed in China for the first time since 1999, leaving one person dead and hospitalizing another nine, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The disease, a contagious viral illness that in its most severe form causes paralysis, difficulty breathing and sometimes death, broke out in the prefectures of Hotan and Bazhou in the country's western Xinjiang province.

Among the ten cases confirmed, six are in children under three years old and four are young adults.

The WHO said evidence indicates the virus is genetically linked to polio cases currently circulating in Pakistan, which borders Xinjiang. Pakistan has been affected by the nationwide transmission of the same WPV1 strain.

It also warned the virus could spread beyond the current affected area.

The polio virus can travel great distances and find susceptible populations, no matter where they live
Helen Yu, WHO

"Although other areas in China or other countries are not immediately at risk due to the geographic distance to the affected province, the polio virus can travel great distances and find susceptible populations, no matter where they live," Helen Yu, from the WHO's Beijing office told CNN.

According to China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Ministry of Health has dispatched a group of public health experts to the affected region to help treat the virus.

It said the local government had launched a mass vaccination campaign starting in early September. WHO confirmed initial vaccination campaigns carried out by mid-September had reached over 3.5 million children -- children being particularly vulnerable to polio.

Further vaccination campaigns will be conducted in the near future to ensure this outbreak is brought completely under control, according to the health ministry.

"No matter how long a country has been polio-free, as long as global polio eradication has not yet been achieved, the risk for importation remains and constant vigilance is required." said Yu.

Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, is usually transmitted through contaminated food and water. It invades the nervous system and often leads to permanent paralysis. It can be prevented by immunization.

This is the first outbreak of polio in China since 1999, when a case was reportedly brought into the country from India.

Elvis receives polio shot
Image from abigailpadgett.files.wordpress

Polio made an impression when I watched House M.D. Season 4 episode 6 and I went to search for more information on that. In that episode, an insane candidate claims that he cured polio with high dosage of Vitamin C which House later pointed out that polio has no cure.

Opinions:

How bad is polio really?

Since polio is a virus that spreads by unclean food and water, we all better eat clean and live clean while we still can.

Let's not forget, there are still many other viruses around like the Legionnaire's Disease and parasites such as the Anisakis.

Vocabulary:

contagious -- (adj) describes a disease that can be caught by touching someone with the disease or a piece of infected clothing
paralysis -- (n) [C or U] when you are unable to move all or part of your body because of illness or injury
vaccination --(n) [C or U] to give someone a vaccine, usually by injection, to prevent them from getting a disease
vulnerable --(adj) able to be easily physically, emotionally, or mentally hurt, influenced or attacked
outbreak --(n) [C]
eradication -- (n) [U] the process of getting rid of completely or destroy something bad
transmit -- (vb) [I or T] to broadcast something, or to send out or carry signals using radio, television, etc.
contaminated -- (adj) made something less pure or made it poisonous
invade -- (vb) [I or T] to enter a place in large numbers, usually when unwanted and in order to take possession or do damage
immunization -- (n) [C or U] the process of giving a person or animal protection against a particular disease by introducing a special substance into their body, usually by injection

insane -- (adj) mentally ill

Wednesday, 28 September 2011

Medical & News: New polio outbreak hits China

New polio outbreak hits China

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