Ethiopia: Polio fears in refugee camps

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.unhcr.org/4f1ea7d99.html

Polio fears in Ethiopian refugee camps
Briefing Notes, 24 January 2012

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming ? to whom quoted text may be attributed ? at the press briefing, on 24 January 2012, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

UNHCR is very concerned at reports this week of two suspected poliomyelitis cases among Somali refugees at Dollo Ado's Bur Amino camp in Ethiopia, and three suspected cases from the surrounding host community. Polio is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children...

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Ethiopia: Polio fears in refugee camps

UN Refugee Agency Warns of Potential Polio Cases in Camps

24 January 2012

The United Nations refugee agency today voiced its concern over reports of two suspected polio cases this week among Somali refugees living in camps in Ethiopia and three cases in the surrounding community.

"The immediate priority is to confirm the outbreak, and samples have been collected and sent to Addis Ababa for laboratory confirmation," said spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Melissa Fleming at a press briefing in Geneva.

Ms. Fleming said UNHCR is working closely with the Ethiopian ministry of health, the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other health partners to coordinate the response in the five rThe immediate priority is to confirm the outbreak, and samples have been collected and sent to Addis Ababa for laboratory confirmation.efugee camps in Dollo Ado, where the cases were reported.

"Once the strain of virus is identified, the appropriate vaccine will be dispatched to Dollo Ado for a mass vaccination campaign in the camps and surrounding communities," she said.

In addition, a nationwide anti-polio campaign is scheduled to start on 27 January and will be expanded to include all refugee camps.

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