Why in the News?
The World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating a suspected new strain of polio in a two-year-old child from Tikrikilla, Meghalaya.
What is Vaccine-Derived Polio?
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About Polio:
| Details | |
| Nature of Disease | Crippling and potentially deadly viral infectious disease affecting the nervous system. |
| Types of Poliovirus | – WPV1 (Wild Poliovirus type 1) – WPV2 (Wild Poliovirus type 2, eradicated globally) – WPV3 (Wild Poliovirus type 3, eradicated globally) |
| Current Status | WPV1 remains in circulation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. |
| Transmission | Primarily through the faecal-oral route or contaminated water/food. |
| Affected Population | Largely affects children under 5 years of age. |
| Impact | Virus multiplies in the intestine, may invade the nervous system, causing paralysis. |
| Prevention | – No Cure: Preventable through immunization. – Vaccines: – OPV: Oral Polio Vaccine given at birth, with doses at 6, 10, 14 weeks, and a booster at 16-24 months. – IPV: Injectable Polio Vaccine given with the 3rd dose of DPT under UIP. |
| India’s Status |
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PYQ:[2016] ‘Mission Indradhanush’ launched by the Government of India pertains to: (a) immunization of children and pregnant women (b) construction of smart cities across the country (c) India’s own search for the Earth-like planets in outer space (d) New Educational Policy |
