The Silicon Review ^Asia

The Philippines has reported its first case of polio ever since the country declared it was free from polio 19 years ago, which caused a massive blow to the campaign to eradicate it. In a recent report, the country’s department of health stated that the disease has begun to “re-emerge,” with a case confirmed in a 3year-old girl, and a suspected case waiting for confirmation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also has said that it was very concerned at the re-emergence of the disease in the country; UNICEF has described it as “deeply disconcerting." The organizations have promised to ensure that there are proper vaccination facilities available in the Philippines and will start campaigns to bring awareness about the disease.

 According to the recent statistical report released by WHO, a global campaign to eradicate polio which was launched in the year 1998 was successful, and the disease which was caused due to the wild poliovirus have decreased by more than 99% since then (from an estimated 350,000 cases back in 1999, to 33 reported cases in 2018.)

However, the disease is still present in countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan, the emergence of new vaccinated strains of polio has complicated efforts to rid the world of the disease. Organizations like UNICEF and WHO are conducting welfare campaigns and creating awareness about good personal hygiene apart from immunization.