9 million children in Africa will be vaccinated against polio

CAPE TOWN (AP) — A campaign to vaccinate more than 9 million children against polio was launched this week in four countries in eastern and southern Africa after an outbreak was confirmed in Malawi.

The campaign began in Malawi, where children were vaccinated orally in Lilongwe, the capital, and Blantyre, the second largest city in the country.

Work will be extended on Thursday to Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, according to UNICEF, which is working with governments and other partners.

Another three rounds of vaccinations will follow in the coming months, with the goal of inoculating more than 20 million children.

“This is the first case of polio detected in Africa in more than five years, and UNICEF is working closely with governments and partners to do everything possible to stop the virus,” said Mohamed M. Fall, regional director of the UN Children's Organization for Eastern and Southern Africa.

UNICEF, the World Health Organization and other partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are supporting governments with the campaign after it was confirmed that a 3-year-old girl was paralyzed by poliovirus in Lilongwe.

People get polio mostly when they drink water contaminated with the feces of someone who carries the virus. Children under 5 years of age and those who live in unsanitary areas are at greater risk.

“A regional response is vital because polio is extremely contagious and can easily spread when people cross borders,” Fall said.

“There is no cure for polio, but the vaccine will protect children for life. We are working with the World Health Organization and other partners to ensure that parents, as well as the community and religious leaders, know how important it is that every child is vaccinated.”