Context:
The World Health Organization has declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea.
Polio:
- Nature – Deadly viral infectious disease affecting the nervous system.
- Symptoms – Irreversible paralysis, fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, pain in arms and legs.
- Can be fatal if respiratory muscles are paralyzed or brain is infected.
- Transmission – Person-to-person via faecal-oral route or contaminated water/food.
- Primarily affects children under 5 years.
- Mechanism – Virus multiplies in the intestine, can invade the nervous system causing paralysis.
- Prevention and Cure –
- No Cure
- Prevention through immunization.
- Vaccines –
- Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) – Birth dose, primary doses at 6, 10, 14 weeks, booster at 16-24 months.
- Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV) – Additional dose with the 3rd dose of DPT under UIP.
- Eradication Measures –
- Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) – Launched in 1988 by national governments and WHO.
- World Polio Day – Observed on October 24 to maintain vigilance against the disease.
India & Polio:
- Received Polio-Free Certification in 2014 after 3 years of zero cases.
- Eradication Programs –
- Pulse Polio Programme aimed at 100% coverage under OPV.
- Mission Indradhanush – Nationwide immunization drive marking 25 years of Pulse Polio Programme
- Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
Source: BBC
Previous Year Question
Which of the following diseases can be transmitted from one person to another through tattooing?
1. Chikungunya
2. Hepatitis B
3. NW-AIDS
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Explanation
Chikungunya virus is primarily transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.