DOH confirms 4th polio case in Philippines

The Department of Health says it will conduct synchronized oral polio vaccinations starting October to protect children under 5 years old against the polio virus. —INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed the fourth case of polio in the Philippines since 2001.

The person who contracted the virus is from Mindanao, the health department said.

“The test conducted by our Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases – Japan confirms the fourth polio case in the country,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque said in a statement.

The DOH said vaccination campaign for children below five years old is now being implemented in the municipalities where the third and fourth cases were reported.

The third case was recorded in Maguindanao in October.

Polio vaccination drives covering the whole Mindanao is set on November 25 to December 8,  the DOH added.

“We can defeat polio, but we need the public to trust and actively participate in our immunization programs,” Duque said as he reminded the public that he best prevention against polio is vaccination.

“The virus is transmitted through the oral-feral route. Handwashing will also help in the prevention,” the health department said.

The World Health Organization declared the Philippines free from the wild polio virus in 2000, seven years after its last case was monitored in the country.