In November 2022, the World Health Organization reported cases of children infected with polio. Mutant type 2 (cVDPV2) in the province of Aceh, which is located in northern Sumatra. Indonesia which is a child who has never been vaccinated against polio And later, three more patients were found in the same area. The area has consistently low levels of vaccination coverage. And there are many problems with not getting vaccinations. resulting in a high risk of spreading the disease
Today (December 23), Dr. Tares Krassaniyawiwong Director-General of the Department of Disease Control said that from monitoring the situation of polio around the world. There has been an increase in the number of people infected with mutant vaccine strains of polio. Most outbreaks were found in areas with low vaccination coverage. If a polio-infected person travels from an endemic area into Thailand Outbreaks can occur in areas with low levels of vaccination coverage. The Department of Disease Control has informed local authorities to follow up on children who have not received the vaccine or received the vaccine late. urgently get vaccinated To raise the level of vaccination coverage to be high enough to prevent disease. This is especially true in areas where vaccination coverage is consistently low, such as Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and four districts of Songkhla.
Dr. Sophon Iamsirithavorn Deputy Director General Department of Disease Control added that At this time, measures to prevent and control COVID disease have been relaxed. In addition, there are more tourists traveling to Thailand. There is a risk that the polio virus may be transmitted to the country by people traveling from endemic areas. Accelerating vaccination coverage among targeted children is an important matter that needs to be accelerated. Because polio is a serious disease. If there is an outbreak, it may affect the public health system. Thailand has a plan to campaign for supplementary vaccination among Thai children and foreign children in risky areas. In order to increase coverage and raise the level of immunity to be sufficient to prevent the spread of the disease.
Prof. Dr. Chanameth Techasansiri, a pediatrician specializing in infectious diseases, said that polio is a disease that causes inflammation of the spinal cord. which causes muscle paralysis Lifelong disability or death may occur. transmitted from person to person through food intake or contaminated water There is currently no cure for polio. Getting the polio vaccine is the best way to prevent the disease. Currently, there are two types of vaccines, oral polio vaccine (OPV) and injectable polio vaccine (IPV). including personal hygiene protection such as washing hands, eating and drinking clean, hygienic Defecate into a sanitary toilet every time. to prevent infection and spread of polio