Polio strikes in Botswana as virus races across Africa

[Quetzal]

Polio strikes in Botswana as virus races across Africa

An outbreak of polio in Botswana has dealt a fresh blow to the global campaign to eradicate the disease and confirmed fears that it has vaulted across Africa since some states in Nigeria suspended vaccinations.

A seven-year-old boy in the north-western district of Ngami was this week diagnosed with paralytic polio, Botswana's first case in 13 years. The virus has now spread to nine African countries and Nigeria is its presumed source.

The Botswana government began an emergency immunisation campaign with help from UN agencies and Rotary International. The condition of the boy, whose paralysis started on February 8, was not revealed.

In addition to starting to immunise all children, Botswana has heightened disease surveillance and notified neighbouring countries.

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Polio strikes in Botswana as virus races across Africa