Ethiopia to vaccinate two million children against polio


The Ethiopian health authorities will vaccinate more than two million children this month as part off a nationwide anti-polio drive, state media reported Wednesday.

"Some 2.1 million children under five in various parts of the nation will be vaccinated against polio in the house-to-house campaign," the Ethiopian News Agency said, quoting health officials.

The project will be carried out in several districts for two days starting on October 17, ENA added.

The Horn of Africa nation had eradicated polio by 2001. A few cases were reported in 2004 and 2006 and more infections were detected in April this year, in western regions bordering South Sudan.

The poliomyelitis virus generally strikes children. It attacks the nervous system, causing paralysis and sometimes death due to respiratory problems.

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AFP 151654 GMT 10 08


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