インターナショナルヘルスケアクリニック

インターナショナルヘルスケアクリニック

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2018.6.28

Polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea

海外渡航者ワクチン

An outbreak of polio has been confirmed in Papua New Guinea, 18 years after the country was declared free of the disease according to BBC NEWS, 26 June 2018.

The Polio virus was detected in six-year-old boy in April.  The virus also found in children in same community, and WHO declared outbreak of polio.

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a polio virus and mainly affected children aged under five.  Initial symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, and so on is appeared but these symptoms sometimes do not show up.  Because of this, people sometimes do not know they are infected.

Preventing polio infection, the vaccination is the best way to protect the virus.  WHO and The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend having polio vaccine three times.  If you do not have the vaccine three times, it might be good idea to have it.

 

References

BBC NEWS

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44614382

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/kenkou/polio/qa.html