Health office awaits lab results of suspected polio case

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

THE City Health Office is seeking confirmation from duly accredited laboratories in Manila and abroad concerning a case of suspected Acute Flaccid Paralysis or polio in Zamboanga City.

City Health Officer Dr. Rodel Agbulos said the family of the suspected one-year-old child victim is residing in the village of Sta. Catalina.

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Records show that the child’s parents –- a 23-year-old housewife and a laborer husband -- went to Sabah, Malaysia in 2008.

The child was born on April 24, 2010 in a Malaysian jail through normal delivery.

Fifteen days after birth, the family was deported to the Philippines and since then the family had spent months transferring to various places in Basilan and in the city.

The family transferred to Sta. Catalina village in November 2011 and the house they live is shared with two other families.

Agbulos said based on initial laboratory tests and investigations conducted by city and regional health experts, the child is a case of acute flaccid paralysis versus nutrient deficiency, upper respiratory tract infection and malnutrition.

From Manila, Agbulos said the results will be forwarded to Australia for final analysis.

The child and her siblings are under medication at present, Agbulos said.

Meanwhile, he said his office will conduct mass immunization activities targeting the under 5 year old age group population while they are waiting for the final results of the laboratory analysis.

He said a minimum of three immunization rounds, spaced 4-6 weeks apart achieving at least 95 percent coverage of Sta. Catalina village, will be conducted.

He said the immunization activities will include the neighboring villages of Rio Hondo and Talon-Talon if sufficient Oral Polio Vaccine is still available.