All were resting assured that polio, a disease that cripples an individual had been brought to the ground zero level in 2000 only to be dismayed five years later, an official of the Ministry of Health and Population said here Wednesday.

There were no reported cases after 2000 but four cases were found last year, said Shyam Raj Upreti of Child Health Division under the Ministry of Health and Population.

He said that irrespective of the number of cases traced, the National Health Policy has been taking it as an epidemic. It is a contagious disease, which spreads through virus (Feco-Oral).

The country was gearing up with the target of eradicating polio by 2005 but the target could not be met with the surfacing of some sporadic cases. The government has now come up with the plan to eradicate it by 2008, Upreti said.

Districts bordering India and inner Terai belt are prone to the disease with a high level of risk, according to Upreti.

He also noted that the first phase of the polio vaccination program was conducted in 15 districts on Jan. 21 and 22 and the vaccine was provided to 1.8 million children. The second phase program is going to be conducted on Feb. 21 and 22 in rest of the districts that have been identified of having a high level of risk factor.

The Nepali government has been conducting Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance in the risk prone districts among the children of below 15 years and it is a regular program of the government, Upreti noted, adding, "If any case happens to be traced, then a response mapping will be carried out within two weeks."

Nepal would not be polio free until the number of cases in India does not come to the zero level, Upreti noted. He said that the country had imported cases from India last year.

The symptoms of polio are fever, paralysis and weak limbs and muscles. Upreti said that if any child becomes paralyzed then she/ he could not be cured for their lifetime. Nevertheless they could live long and would not face immediate death.

The Polio eradication program was spearheaded in 1996 in Nepal. There are three programs, regular program for below one-year children, National Immunization Day (NID) and Sub-NID for one year to below five years children.

Source: Xinhua