India Polio Cases Almost Triple in First Half of 2002

August 13, 2002
New Dehli, India

Polio cases in India have nearly tripled in the first half of this year compared with the same period a year ago, a jump that could set back the world's drive to wipe out the crippling virus by 2005.

The new figures were dismaying for India, which only two decades ago saw tens of thousands afflicted with polio every year, but was now thought to be on the last lap of the race to wipe out the disease after an ambitious immunization campaign.

According to the National Polio Surveillance Project, run by the federal government and the World Health Organization, 86 new cases were reported from January to June this year- compared to 31 cases over the same period last year.

The total number of new cases for 2002 could end up being triple the 268 reported last year, said Dr. Anubha Ghose, India's director for health at the international humanitarian organization CARE.

-from the wire service, "In the World"

Back