Published On : Wed, Jun 15th, 2016

Polio virus detected in water sample in Hyderabad, Telangana declares global emergency

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polio-vaccinationHyderabad: The Telangana government on Tuesday declared a “global emergency’ after an active strain of poliovirus (P2 strain) was found in a water sample collected from a drain in Hyderabad.

The virus found was a vaccine-derived strain of the virus. In a mass vaccination drive, more than three lakh children in the city and Ranga Reddy district will be inoculated Wednesday onwards as a “preventive measure’.

Two lakh vaccines were airlifted from Geneva immediately after the virus was detected, The Times of India reported.”The government has decided to conduct a special campaign against polio in Hyderabad and parts of Ranga Reddy from June 20 to June 26,’ the principal secretary of health, Rajeshwar Tiwari, said, adding that the polio strain was previously detected in Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, as well.