Polio cases resurface in UP

India is in the last phase of polio eradication, but has been missing deadlines8212;the latest being December 2004. In 2005, 64 cases were reported8212;Bihar led the tally with 30 cases, followed closely by UP with 28. About Rs 9,000 crore is spent on polio eradication every year.

Last month, two polio cases were reported from Bulandshahr and Muradabad in UP. With anti-polio vaccine rounds scheduled for February 26, the states have been asked to strengthen their machinery for implementing the rounds as polio outbreaks have been known to start occurring in April, said an official.

Health Secretary P K Hota, who was present at Hayman8217;s meetings with the Bihar and UP chief ministers, said that both state governments have assured the WHO of their support. 8216;8216;Though the state governments were complimented for having undertaken special measures, the WHO said that more was needed to stop transmission of virus,8217;8217; he said.