Polio outbreak in the Congo illustrates danger of complacency

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for November 11, 2010

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Congo Republic Declares a Polio Emergency

This is an illustration of what is presumed to be a safe region after universal polio vaccination yet when the vaccination rate drops off or an enclave of people decides not to vaccinate or who have not been vaccinated, the disease makes a comeback.

There remain parents who continue to reject vaccination for their children and despite their representing a minority, it does not take much to reduce the herd immunity level below the 90-95% level required to protect those who have not been vaccinated.

We need to acknowledge the lessons learned from more unfortunate regions of the world.