Americas are experiencing a delicate moment in the face of the threat of polio, says minister

The Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga, said today (26) that the Americas are experiencing a delicate moment in the face of the threat of a return of poliomyelitis in the region. Speaking at the 30th Pan American Sanitary Conference, he defended the promotion of sensitive epidemiological surveillance that allows for the detection and investigation of all cases of acute flaccid paralysis, a condition related to polio.

“Including the topic of polio eradication as an item on the agenda of the 30th Pan American Sanitary Conference is crucial for us to leverage immediate communication actions on existing risks, as well as coordinate efforts”, he said, while also highlighting the need to prepare a plan Updated outbreak response in accordance with operational procedures provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“We need to expand vaccine coverage and strengthen our surveillance systems to avoid the risk of reintroduction of this vaccine-preventable disease in our region. We need to act now. We need to act together”, concluded Queiroga.

Campaign in Brazil

The National Campaign for Vaccination against Poliomyelitis and Multivaccination is in progress throughout the country and should be closed next Friday (30). Immunization was extended by the Ministry of Health due to low adherence. The doses are available at more than 40,000 vaccination points. The goal is to immunize 95% of the target audience, made up of 14.3 million children under 5 years old.

Children aged 1 to 4 years should receive one dose of Oral Poliomyelitis Vaccine (OPV), provided they have already received the three doses of Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (VIP) provided for in the basic schedule. Until last Saturday (24), 6 million doses against polio had been applied during the campaign.

Illness

Also known as infantile paralysis, polio is an acute infectious disease caused by the poliovirus, which can infect adults and children through direct contact with feces or secretions passed through the mouth of sick people. In severe cases, in which muscle paralysis occurs, the lower limbs are the most affected. Vaccination is the only form of prevention.