They launch a global alarm for the return of a disease, which one?

On Tuesday, October 25, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned that, following recently identified polio cases in the United States and Brazil, alarms have been raised about this disease.

According to reports of infections, a total of 386 cases have been reported in these countries so far this year. However, it should be noted that many of these cannot be registered within health systems, which would make the list broader.

PAHO describes this disease as “highly contagious and is caused by the polio virus. Although very rare, it can attack the parts of the brain that help you breathe, causing death. There is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented with vaccination ”.

It also specifies that infections from this disease commonly produce no symptoms, but in other cases the effects are similar to those of the flu. In the most extreme situations, the virus can destroy “parts of the nervous system, causing permanent paralysis of the legs or arms”.

Now, although more than 20 years of eradication certification have been completed in the case of the Americas region, “the threat continues.”

Dr Arlene King, president of the Regional Commission for Certification of the Final Phase of Polio Eradication in the Americas, said that “as long as polio exists everywhere, there is a risk everywhere, even within our region. We must be aware of what our risks are, where the risks lie in each country ”.

The question concerns cases from other continents like Europe and Asia, where there are minors with paralysis due to poliomyelitis; but also in America, with emergency records in the United States.

Polio vaccine: recommendations to protect children

In general, poliomyelitis or poliomyelitis seems to be a non-existent disease, because there have been no significant outbreaks since 1991; however there is a risk. Here becauseto prevent affections, the recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection for fathers, mothers and carers is that they respect the national vaccination calendar. There are five times that the little ones have to attend the vaccination point.

Completing this activity involves two stages. The first is the application of three doses at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. The second phase is the application of 2 reinforcements at 18 months and 5 years. With these five questions, the regime is completed and “lifetime protection” is granted, the health ministry said.

And it is that, as explained by the Deputy Director of Communicable Diseases of this entity, María Belén Jaimes, with the slogan “End polio” they seek to eradicate the disease nationwide and this includes vaccination and epidemiological surveillance.

How can you vaccinate?

If you are in Bogotá, explained the district health secretary WEEK that the strategy is that of barrier-free vaccination. Therefore, it is “free, you can go anywhere regardless of EPS and is applied at all regular vaccination points”.

Also, In the case of the Colombian capital, they point out that the tours of the locations and the permanent sessions take place in schools, where it is necessary that the minors have signed the consent. In the capital there are more than 200 points. Here you can enter the address and the system will show the nearest place.

If the person is in other parts of the country, the Extended Vaccination Program (PAI) exists. On this page select the department, then the municipality and you will have the address and times to apply the vaccine against polio and other diseases.

* With information from Europa Press.