Polio in Nigeria sees four-fold increase: BBC

Nov 22, 2011 |

Agencies

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Nigeria is witnessing a four-fold increase in polio, the BBC has reported.

The disease is also spreading to other countries - Niger, Mali and Ivory Coast, the WHO revealed.

The BBC report quoted an official in Nigeria who said, 'forty-three cases were reported in the country this year, compared to 11 last year'.

Thomas Moran also added that 'curbing the polio virus in Nigeria' was 'key to eradicating the disease in Africa'.

Nigeria's Muslim leaders in the north of the country opposed vaccinations in 2003, claiming they were causing infertility.

According to the BBC, Nigeria, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan are the only four countries in the world where 'polio remains a major health risk'.

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