FrenchieGirl
Senior Moderator
[Google Translation from French to English]
Wide vaccination campaign against polio in Brazil
BRASILIA - Brazil announced Sunday the start of an extensive vaccination campaign against polio, aiming to protect 95% of children under five years, the population most at risk.
This program, with a budget of $ 24 million, will vaccinate 14.7 million children, said the Ministry of Health in a statement. A second campaign is planned for August
Polio, a disease of the nervous system that strikes even in Asia and Africa, has been missing for 80 years in Brazil, following numerous campaigns.
"Now, what with the vaccine is to keep the country free of the virus that causes the disease. Stings against no-indications," said the program coordinator, Maria Arindelita Arruda.
"The fact that polio is eradicated from Brazil is not a reason to relax," she said, noting that the disease was still endemic in several countries such as India, Pakistan, Afghanistan or Nigeria.
The vaccination campaign is useful, if "the virus is imported by a person from these countries. Children are not at risk of catching," said Arruda Arindelita.
The virus, which mainly affects children under five, can cause paralysis within hours.
(? AFP / 20 June 2009 19h20)
Wide vaccination campaign against polio in Brazil
BRASILIA - Brazil announced Sunday the start of an extensive vaccination campaign against polio, aiming to protect 95% of children under five years, the population most at risk.
This program, with a budget of $ 24 million, will vaccinate 14.7 million children, said the Ministry of Health in a statement. A second campaign is planned for August
Polio, a disease of the nervous system that strikes even in Asia and Africa, has been missing for 80 years in Brazil, following numerous campaigns.
"Now, what with the vaccine is to keep the country free of the virus that causes the disease. Stings against no-indications," said the program coordinator, Maria Arindelita Arruda.
"The fact that polio is eradicated from Brazil is not a reason to relax," she said, noting that the disease was still endemic in several countries such as India, Pakistan, Afghanistan or Nigeria.
The vaccination campaign is useful, if "the virus is imported by a person from these countries. Children are not at risk of catching," said Arruda Arindelita.
The virus, which mainly affects children under five, can cause paralysis within hours.
(? AFP / 20 June 2009 19h20)