AFRICA - Number of cases of polio in 2004 three times higher than previous year. African ministers insist on the need to eradicate the disease which affected 1,037 African children last year

Rome (Fides Service) - In 2004 there were three times as many cases of polio as the previous year:1.185 compared to 784 in 2003, most of them Africa, especially in Nigeria one of six countries where polio considered endemic, but also in India 129 cases 2004, Pakistan 46, Niger 25, Afghanistan 4 and Egypt1.
Although the polio virus has spread to Sudan and a recent case was reported in Saudi Arabia the African health ministers said they were confident that the disease can be defeated and the World Health Organisation goal to eradicate polio will be reached.
Plans to fight polio in Africa in 2005 includes a series of vaccination campaigns in 25 countries and double service of monitoring. In 2004 the number of children affected doubled and there were 1,037 cases, 85% of the total number in the world. The number began to rise when vaccination campaigns in certain regions of Nigeria were suspended. Representatives of Ivory Coast, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Nigeria and Niger organised at least five national campaigns.
In international campaign to eradicate polio launched in 1988 has in fact reduced the effect of polio in the world by 99%. (AP) (21/1/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:22 Parole:253)