Fourteen years after Nepal declared itself free from the poliovirus, a highly contagious and mutated form of the virus has been detected in the sewage of the Kathmandu Valley. This alarming discovery, confirmed by the Health Ministry, underscores the urgent need for the government to take decisive measures to prevent a potential outbreak. The poliovirus, found in samples collected from the sewage at the Tukucha-Bagmati confluence, was identified through tests conducted at the Regional Reference Lab of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Thailand. The results, which arrived in Nepal on July 13, revealed a mutated form of the poliovirus, posing a significant risk of spreading among children and adults alike. This concerning development calls for the government to take necessary measures to prevent a polio resurgence in Nepal.

Poliovirus spreads through contaminated water and food, entering the body via the mouth or nose, and replicating in the throat and intestines. In severe cases, it can invade the brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis. The detection of this mutated virus in the Kathmandu Valley indicates a potential public health crisis that requires immediate and robust intervention. Neighboring India, which also declared itself polio-free, has similarly faced challenges, with recent detections of the virus in Pakistan and Afghanistan highlighting the persistent threat in the whole South Asia region. The mutated virus found in Kathmandu’s sewage suggests that it may have originated within Nepal’s environment, raising concerns about the potential for local transmission.  It is good to note that the Health Ministry has prepared to administer the oral polio vaccine to all children in the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley—Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, and Kathmandu—between July 24 and July 28. This urgent vaccination campaign aims to protect children from the risk of polio and prevent further spread. Although not enough, this is certainly a step in the right direction. 

Polio is a debilitating disease with no cure, and vaccination remains the only effective means of prevention. Initial symptoms of polio infection include vomiting and fever, which can progress to paralysis and lifelong disability, and in some cases, death. While children under five are most susceptible, unvaccinated adults are equally at risk. Thus, it is imperative that the government not only focuses on vaccinating children but also considers providing booster doses to ensure broad immunity across all age groups. The government must act swiftly and decisively to strengthen the polio vaccination campaign nationwide. This includes intensifying surveillance efforts, expanding immunization coverage, and ensuring that all children receive the necessary doses of the polio vaccine. Public awareness campaigns should also be ramped up to educate communities about the importance of vaccination and reporting any signs of paralysis in children. These all interventions together may help us safeguard the health of our children and ensure that Nepal remains a polio-free country.

 
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