India reports new polio variant in Meghalaya, WHO warns
A two-year-old child from Meghalaya was initially suspected to have polio, but the Union health ministry has confirmed that he has vaccine-derived polio, not wild polio. Health officials are investigating, and WHO doctors are collecting samples in Tikrikilla village, which is known for low vaccination rates. Read on to know about the symptoms to look out for.
India reports new variant of polio in Meghalaya, WHO warns (Image courtesy: iStock)
A two-year-old child from Meghalaya was suspected of having polio at a hospital in Goalpara, Assam. The child from West Garo Hills district was later confirmed by the Union Health Ministry to have vaccine-derived polio and not wild polio. Vaccine-derived polio can occur in individuals with low immunity and is associated with the use of oral polio vaccines.
The confirmation of the case alerted the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the central government. The WHO declared the region polio-free in 2014, while the last case of wild polio was reported in 2011.
The case was identified during routine surveillance, following which immediate action was taken. “A boy with symptoms of poliomyelitis was detected yesterday. He has been sent to Goalpara in Assam for treatment,” a senior doctor at the Directorate of Health Services said. According to a senior district official, health officials in Meghalaya have begun investigating the case.
A team of WHO doctors has arrived at Tikrikilla village, where the suspected case was found, to collect samples. The village is known to have a large number of unvaccinated residents, which may have contributed to the case.
Symptoms of Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. The severity of symptoms can vary, ranging from mild to severe. Symptoms of poliomyelitis can range from mild and flu-like to severe, including paralysis and respiratory problems.
Non-paralytic polio (mild symptoms)
Most polio infections are asymptomatic or cause mild symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they may include:
– Fever: A common early symptom of polio.
– Fatigue: General tiredness or weakness.
– Headache: persistent or severe headache.
– Sore throat: discomfort or pain in the throat.
– Nausea: upset stomach or feeling like vomiting.
– Vomiting: Repeated vomiting may occur.
– Abdominal pain: cramps or discomfort in the abdominal area.
– Muscle pain: pain or discomfort in the muscles.
– Stiff neck: Stiffness of the muscles in the neck, sometimes accompanied by pain.
Paralytic polio (severe symptoms)
In rare cases the disease progresses to paralytic polio, which is more serious and can cause:
– Muscle weakness: Sudden weakness in an arm, leg, or both.
– Paralysis: Loss of the ability to move body parts. This can be partial or complete and often affects one side of the body more than another.
– Asymmetrical weakness: The weakness may be uneven or affect different parts of the body differently.
– Difficulty breathing: In severe cases, the muscles that control breathing may weaken, leading to respiratory problems.
– Difficulty swallowing: Difficulty swallowing may occur due to weakness in the throat muscles.
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