Polio outbreak in Yemen, Saudi

DUBAI — The UAE which was declared Polio-free has once again become vulnerable with a fresh outbreak reported in the neighbouring Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, including Yemen and Saudi Arabia, according to Mohammed Wahdan, Special Adviser to the Regional Director for Polio Eradication at the World Health Organisation.

by

Asma Ali Zain

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Thu 6 Jul 2006, 10:35 AM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 7:08 PM

During a regional staff meeting to discuss WHO Poliomyelitis Eradication held in Al Bustan Rotana yesterday, Wahdan said, "WHO has already declared the UAE free of polio but the disease has been reintroduced in Sudan, Yemen and Somalia and has become an epidemic. Several cases were imported into Saudi Arabia, but the disease did not become an epidemic because of the strong health system," He said another reason why the UAE should take more preventive measures is that several people were entering the country from high-risk countries. The regional meet was inaugurated by the UAE Minister of Health, Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami and was attended by representatives from the region including, India, Pakistan and Egypt among others.


More news from