/ 9 April 1999

POLIO OUTBREAK IN ANGOLA

The World Health Organisation on Friday confirmed a polio outbreak in Angola which has reportedly paralysed 200 children, but the agency said it still aimes to eradicate the disease globally by the end of 2000. The agency said virology experts in South Africa had confirmed polio after examining stool samples taken from the paralysed children in Luanda. WHO had “unconfirmed reports” that the number of cases has risen sharply to 206. WHO is mounting an emergency immunisation campaign aimed at 700000 children. WHO experts are also working with Angolan health officials to control the current outbreak, according to the statement.