Health dept monitoring 9 suspected polio cases

By Nitz Arancon
Correspondent

A health official here said they are currently monitoring nine cases of possible polio cases.

Department of Health-10 Regional Director Adriano Suba-an said they first discovered 51 patients from across Northern Mindanao have contracted Acute Flaccid Paralysis. Of the 51 patients, he said, 42 patients have already been cleared of polio-related virus disease.

“We are now closely monitoring ni-ining siyam sa 51 ka pasyente to find out kon polio ba o dili ug wala pa’y resulta ang sample sa ilang laboratory examination nga among gipadala sa DOH sa Manila,” Suba-an said.

Suba-an divulged the findings during the synchronized nationwide oral polio vaccination on Monday which was launch in Barangay Gusa, this city.

He said they are targeting some 584 thousand children aged five years old and younger for the massive oral polio vaccination which they have started on Monday and will end on Dec. 7. This, Suba-an added, will serve as the first phase of their anti-polio campaign.

Here in the city, at least 80 thousand children have been targeted for the vaccination.

“Nag house-to-house ang atong mga barangay health workers karon sa pagbakuna sa mga kabata-an. Aron atong malikayan ang pagkuyanap sa sakit nga polio,” said Suba-an.

Monday’s launching of the first phase of the anti-polio campaign was graced by representatives from the World Health Organization, city officials led by Mayor Oscar Moreno, and officers and members of Rotary Club.

Moreno said that residents must not be complacent against polio since this is a highly contagious disease. He added that there is no known cure for polio and that only prevention through vaccinations can combat the disease.