Syria, Neighbors To Vaccinate 20 Million Children Against Polio

Syria Map new design 2012

United Nations agencies have announced that more than 20 million children are to be vaccinated in Syria and neighboring countries against polio to try to stop the spread of the crippling infectious disease following its re-emergence there after 14 years.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children's Fund said on November 8 that the mass vaccination against polio, which can spread rapidly among children, is already under way in the Middle East a week after the region declared a polio emergency.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 10 cases of polio in northeast Syria where a civil war has been raging for more than two years.

The crippling disease is caused by a virus transmitted via contaminated food and water.


Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP