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Polio Cases Confirmed in Syria
World | October 29, 2013, Tuesday // 13:34
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A Yemeni child receives a polio vaccine during an anti-polio campaign at a health center in Sana`a, Yemen. Photo by EPA/BGNES
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 10 cases of polio in Syria, in what is the first outbreak of the disease in the country since 1999.
Another 12 possible cases are being tested, most of them babies and toddlers, says the BBC.
Before the start of the civil war 2 years ago, up to 95% of the children in Syria were vaccinated against polio. The UN's estimate is that currently, half a million Syrian children are not immunized.
"This is a communicable disease. With population movements it can travel to other areas, so the risk for its spread is high", commented WHO spokesman Oliver Rosenbauer.
More than 4 million Syrians have been displaced internally by the conflict, generally living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.
The WHO has already reported of increased measles, typhoid, and hepatitis A cases in the country.
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