Rome (Fides Service) - Africa is threatened by the most widespread epidemic of poliomyelitis in recent years. After reappearing in Sudan, in the war torn region of Darfur, the virus is spreading at an alarming rate. The World Health Organisation confirmed that on 20 May a child was paralysed after an attack of polio. This was the first case in the Sudan in three years.
Although the number of cases is relatively low, the disease has re-emerged in 13 African countries this year compared to only 3 last year. Experts fear the epidemic may spread in great proportions during the period of highest diffusion leaving thousands of children paralysed for life..
Polio is usually contracted by children under 5 due to polluted water. It attacks the central nervous system causing paralysis, muscle atrophy, deformation and in some cases death.
WHO had warned of the danger of an epidemic of polio in Darfur where thousands have been killed and more than one million have been displaced due to 15 months of fierce fighting between Arab militia supported by the Sudanese government and Black Africans.
The virus is spreading in Nigeria, epicentre of the epidemic in Africa, and it continues in Niger, another sub-Saharan country with a high number of cases of polio.
It has appeared also in the sub-Saharan countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo where it had never been seen before. In Botswana, southern Africa, the first case was reported in February this year.
The remaining four countries where polio is endemic are Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India where a vaccination campaign is underway to stop contagion by the end of the year. (AP) (24/6/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:27; Parole:308)