Second polio case in Maharashtra this year

“This child from Vasai died in Bihar. The stool samples could not be collected after the death to confirm polio, but a contact person in Bihar was detected with P1 and therefore this case has been declared a polio positive case,” said Dr Prakash Doke, Director of Health Services, Maharashtra.

According to health officials, Shobha showed symptoms of paralysis on July 29. She was taken to a local doctor but the weakness persisted. Her parents decided to take her to Bihar for treatment. There, a sample of her stool was collected by the health officials on August 9, which tested positive for P1, said a World Health Organisation (WHO) official. Before a second stool sample (as per WHO norms, to confirm the presence of the strain) could be taken, Shobha died on August 14 due to meningitis and weakness.

This year, there have been 255 cases of polio in the country, a majority of which have been reported from UP and Bihar. Last year, an outbreak in these two states raised the national figure to 676, leading to India being labelled an “exporter” of the virus in the sub-continent. After the outbreak, the Central Government, with WHO officials, launched intensive campaigns to halt the spread of polio among children under five years.

For a year now, the pulse polio immunisation rounds are being conducted each month in six states, including Maharashtra. The virus spreads during the monsoon and the authorities are seeking to control it through immunisation by giving booster rounds.

Health officials said Shobha had been administered regular polio immunisation doses till July end. WHO officials said since Shobha had been staying in Vasai before the onset of paralysis in July, the infection had occurred in Maharashtra.