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War-torn Somalia eradicates polio | War-torn Somalia eradicates polio |
(5 days later) | |
Polio has been eliminated from Somalia as no case of the disease has been reported for exactly one year, the UN World Health Organisation says. | Polio has been eliminated from Somalia as no case of the disease has been reported for exactly one year, the UN World Health Organisation says. |
The WHO described it as a "landmark victory" and a testimony to the efforts of more than 10,000 volunteer workers. | The WHO described it as a "landmark victory" and a testimony to the efforts of more than 10,000 volunteer workers. |
The country has been riven by war and violence since 1991 and has no central government or detailed medical data. | The country has been riven by war and violence since 1991 and has no central government or detailed medical data. |
But a WHO spokesman said the UN's network of monitors made it confident in its assessment. | But a WHO spokesman said the UN's network of monitors made it confident in its assessment. |
Hope | Hope |
"This truly historic achievement shows that polio can be eradicated everywhere, even in the most challenging and difficult settings," the WHO's Hussein Gezairy said. | "This truly historic achievement shows that polio can be eradicated everywhere, even in the most challenging and difficult settings," the WHO's Hussein Gezairy said. |
Somalia was the last country with smallpox. I wanted to help ensure that we would not be the last place with polio too Smallpox victim Ali Mao Moallim | Somalia was the last country with smallpox. I wanted to help ensure that we would not be the last place with polio too Smallpox victim Ali Mao Moallim |
Somalia's last case of indigenous polio was in 2002, but it was re-infected three years later with the virus originating from Nigeria. | Somalia's last case of indigenous polio was in 2002, but it was re-infected three years later with the virus originating from Nigeria. |
The UN says its health workers repeatedly vaccinated more than 1.8m children under the age of five by visiting every household in every settlement multiple times. | The UN says its health workers repeatedly vaccinated more than 1.8m children under the age of five by visiting every household in every settlement multiple times. |
The last case was reported on 25 March 2007 in central Somalia. | The last case was reported on 25 March 2007 in central Somalia. |
"This repeated success in Somalia indicates the disease can be stopped even in areas with no functioning central government," the WHO statement said. | "This repeated success in Somalia indicates the disease can be stopped even in areas with no functioning central government," the WHO statement said. |
One of the 10,000 volunteers was Ali Mao Moallim who was the last person on earth to contract smallpox more than 30 years ago. | One of the 10,000 volunteers was Ali Mao Moallim who was the last person on earth to contract smallpox more than 30 years ago. |
"Somalia was the last country with smallpox. I wanted to help ensure that we would not be the last place with polio too," he said. | "Somalia was the last country with smallpox. I wanted to help ensure that we would not be the last place with polio too," he said. |
The disease, which causes paralysis, has been eliminated in developed nations but persists in parts of India, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. | The disease, which causes paralysis, has been eliminated in developed nations but persists in parts of India, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. |
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