[Science] Pulse Polio Campaign, India a Polio Free country?

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Demo Questions

#1) Identify Correct statement(s)
a. Polio virus directly damages the muscle cells and thus causes paralysis of legs.
b. Polio vaccine cannot be taken via Injection.
c.  Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria are the only Polio Endemic nations in the world.
d.  India achieved complete Polio Free Status in 2012.

Ans

1. Only 1 and 2.
2. Only 1,2,3
3. Only 3
4. All of them

#2) Name of the chemical compound used in Indelible Ink Marker Pens during Elections and Pulse-Polio Campaigns.

1. Lead Acetate
2. Silver Nitrate
3. Chromium Sulphate
4. Zink Bromide

What is this disease?

Polio virus enters the nervous system and infects nerve cells that control muscles. Then in most cases, it causes paralysis of legs.

How does is spread?

Polio-virus spreads in human feces. People become infected with the virus through contaminated food and water, especially in areas where sanitation and hygiene are poor.

Vaccination?

• Jonas Salk of USA developed the vaccine to fight Polio in 1950s.
• He could have made billions of dollars by getting Patent rights for his vaccine but he didnot patent his discovery.
• Salk's vaccine, is known as the inactivated polio-virus vaccine (IPV)
• World Health Organization (WHO) had launched massive campaign against Polio, they provided the funds and India started Pulse Polio campaign in 1995.
• Polio vaccine can be given both orally as well as by injection. But in Pulse Polio campaigns, oral-vaccine is used, because it is cheap and doesn't require skilled medical staff for injections.

Prevalence

• Till 2011, Pak, Afghan, India, Nigeria (PAIN) were in the list of Polio endemic countries.
• In January 2011, last polio case in West Bengal. The traditional polio endemic states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have not reported any cases of polio.
• So according to WHO protocol, India's name is removed from the list of Polio Endemic countries in 2012 (No new cases of polio for 12 months continuously.)
• However, India is not yet a complete 'Polio Free' country, because According to protocol, India will have to remain polio-free for the next two years to achieve complete polio free status.

Problem in Vaccination

• Sometimes infants get fever, diarrhea after vaccination as side effects, but then some people exaggerate and start spreading rumors that Polio vaccine causes Impotency in Children. 
• Because of this reason many poor and illiterate parents particularly in the Muslim communities of UP and Maharashtra, didnot allow the health-workers to enter into their areas.
• Health workers and district administration  did their best in spreading awareness and breaking myths. And hence not much public-resistance to Polio vaccination in those regions, nowadays.

Earlier
Tuberculosis and DOTS therapy
Answers of Demo Q?: 
1. Only 3.
2. Silver Nitrate.