Friday, June 23, 2006

Dr Kiran Kumar The Cayman Islands' Medical Officer of Health

With the outbreak of polio-myelitis in Namibia, a disease the World Health organization has fought hard to eradicate, the Public Health Department here in the Cayman Islands urges members of the public to ensure that immunizations for Polio are up-to-date.

Dr Kiran Kumar, the Cayman Islands Medical Officer of Health, commented on the outbreak and its impact to the Cayman Islands:

"At this time there is no need for an alarm; however, because the Cayman Islands is busy with international travel, it is important that members of the public exercise all precautionary measures," he said.

"We must make sure that we are protected. If we are protected by immunization, we will prevent an outbreak, and then there will be no need for a mass immunization campaign against polio."

Thirty-four suspected cases have so far been confirmed in Namibia, a polio free country since 1996. What is thought to be the first case is a 39-year old man with onset of paralysis on 8 May, later confirmed as infected with wild poliovirus type-1. The majority of suspect cases are over 20 years old; seven of the individuals have died.

National health authorities in Namibia are planning three National Immunisation Days in response to the outbreak of wild poliovirus. The first NID was to be conducted as early as 21 June, and will aim to reach the entire population of the country (two million), rather than the usual under-five year population.

Genetic sequencing confirms that the virus is consistent with an importation from Angola, of Indian origin. Angola, Polio-free since 2001, was re-infected last year by a virus from India.

Dr Kumar said parents and others must check their immunization records to ensure that they have been immunized accordingly against poliomyelitis.

Persons not currently fully immunized should contact the Public Health Department, any District Health Centre or the Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac or their private physician.

Polio (Poliomyelitis) is a highly contagious, sometimes fatal viral infection and can cause permanent muscle weakness, paralysis and other symptoms.

Polio is spread by swallowing material such as water that has been contaminated with the poliovirus.   Although anyone can get Polio, children under 5 years of age are more at risk for the infection.  There is no cure for polio but medical assistance may save lives.

The Cayman Islands have remained polio-free, since their last Polio Outbreak in 1957 and the whole Western Hemisphere has bee Polio-free since 1991, the last case having occurred in Peru in a two-year old boy.

In Cayman, Polio immunization coverage has remained high for at least the past 20 years with Polio vaccine coverage ranging from 92 -98 percent.

There is a surveillance system in place for early detection of any imported polio cases into the country. 

According to the Cayman Islands Childhood Immunization Schedule, four (4) doses of Polio vaccine are administered to children for protection against Polio. This is given as a combined vaccine, DTaP, Hib and Polio- protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, haemophilus influenza type b and polio.  The first dose is administered at age two months and the final dose at 4-5 years (School Entry).

For more information please contact Alice Jane Ebanks EPI Manager at 244-2627 or view Global Polio Eradication Initiative at http://polioeradication.org

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