The India Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) for Polio has written to the civic body asking them to hold a polio mop-up round in March in Mumbai and Thane.
The round has been planned as a response after 2010’s first P1 polio strain was reported in Malegaon last month.
The IEAG which consists of national and international experts meets up every six months to decide on polio eradication plans and select dates for holding the polio vaccine rounds.
“After the Malegaon case, the IEAG has lowered down on high risk regions like Mumbai, Thane and Nasik for the outbreak response round to be held in March,” said Dr Mangala Gomare, assistant health officer, polio surveillance, BMC.
The World Health Organisation, in 2008, announced that P1 strain of poliomyelitis was eliminated from India. The case of the 18-month-old baby from the Jaisinghpura taluka in Malegaon with P1 type of polio got the authorities on their toes once again. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) asked the health ministry to study the loopholes in the National Polio Eradication Programme and submit a report.
People still believe that the vaccine has side effects. About 1000 families in Maharashtra had declined to immunise their children in the polio drive held this month. Officials however claim that they are sensitising people as much as possible.
