Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs
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Days after the Union Health Ministry ordered an inquiry into the Type-2 polio virus contamination detected in the vials used for immunisation in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana and ordered for additional immunisation in the three States, the ministry on Wednesday issued a statement stating that “India was certified polio-free in March 2014 and continues to be so. India continues to remain vigilant against all three types of polioviruses.”
“Recently, type 2 polio vaccine virus was found in some sewage and stool samples. The detection of type 2 vaccine virus indicates that a very robust polio surveillance jointly managed by Union Health Ministry and World Health Organisation is still maintained even though seven years have elapsed since the last wild poliovirus case in the country was reported. This detection indicated the use of a type 2 poliovirus containing vaccine, despite the fact that the trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (tOPV) that contained type 2 poliovirus vaccine had been phased out globally, and in India, in April 2016, as a part of the Polio End Game strategy,” said the release. The ministry further added that it was found that in a few vials of bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV) supplied by one manufacturer, there were traces of P2 vaccine.
“The ministry, taking WHO on board, took immediate and comprehensive action. Following the report, the use of all vaccines supplied by this manufacturer was immediately stopped in the country till investigation was completed,” the release said.
Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/india-remains-vigilant-against-polioviruses/article25117071.ece
