25 May 2009 - Fifth round of polio immunization to get underway in Southern SudanJuba, Southern Sudan. Three days of a fifth round of mass polio vaccinations in Southern Sudan will begin tomorrow, May 26. The campaign is triggered by the re-emergence of polio in Southern Sudan and will target an estimated 2.9 million children under the age of five. The polio vaccination campaigns being coordinated by the Government of Southern Sudan’s Ministry of Health, WHO, and UNICEF are designed to counter the rapidly spreading polio outbreak in Southern Sudan. Until polio is defeated, all children in Southern Sudan are at risk of life-long polio paralysis. Polio is a dangerous disease that cripples children and can also kill. It can permanently paralyze and even cause death within hours. There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, can protect a child for life Four successive rounds of the polio immunization in 2009 have already been carried out with the last round conducted from April 27-29. To protect the child against the disease, parents and guardians of children less than 5 years of age need to ensure that their children receive the vaccine in all the polio vaccination rounds. Polio immunizations will be conducted in communities throughout Southern Sudan on Tuesday May 26, Wednesday May 27, and Thursday May 28 and repeated again in October, November, and December. These campaigns will continue until Southern Sudan is polio-free and all children are safe from polio. The polio vaccine is safe and even sick children can be vaccinated. It is also important to help identify new cases and take the necessary action. Community members and organizations are being urged to report immediately any child under the age of 15 years of age with recent onset of paralysis or weakness in the arms or legs to the vaccination teams or the nearest health facility, NGO or government official.
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