Boycott hits 'final' polio push

[muriel_volestrangler]

A huge push to eradicate polio has begun in 10 West African countries. The immunisation drive, billed as the final effort to wipe out polio, will cover some 60m children in three days.

However, the northern Nigerian states of Kano and Zamfara are refusing to cooperate until, they say, the vaccine has been confirmed as safe. Nigeria accounts for a half of all new polio cases. Kano, where the anti-polio drive was halted last year, is at the centre of the disease's resurgence.

Kano suspended immunisations following reports by Muslim clerics that the vaccine was contaminated with an anti-fertility agent as part of a US plot to render Muslim women infertile. "Unless we are convinced by our committee (of health experts) that the oral polio vaccines are safe, the exercise remains suspended in Kano state," said Kano government spokesman Sule Ya'u Sule.

Some studies have shown the vaccine to be safe but one report released last month found traces of the reproductive hormone oestrogen. The World Health Organization, which denies the clerics' claims, called an urgent meeting last month to urge countries where polio is still endemic to eradicate the disease.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/africa/3511361.stm

Arrgh, it looks like the Bush regime doesn't have a monopoly on fear-mongering for political puropses.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Another result of Shrub's perceived "War on Islam"

Kano suspended immunisations following reports by Muslim clerics that the vaccine was contaminated with an anti-fertility agent as part of a US plot to render Muslim women infertile.

They must've heard what we did to Popeye's chicken... ;)