Uganda gov't seeks $2 mln for massive polio vaccination

KAMPALA, March 6 (Chinese media) - The Ugandan government is seeking six billion Ugandan shillings (about two million U.S. dollars) to carry out emergency mass polio immunization in the country following the recent epidemic outbreak in Amuru district in northern Uganda, an official said here on Friday.

"Following the confirmation of the polio outbreak in Amuru district, the ministry is now looking for funds to carry out supplementary immunization throughout the country," Uganda's director general of health services, Sam Zaramba told Chinese media by telephone.

Meanwhile, Ugandan Health Minister Stephen Malinga said the ministry is ready to carry out the massive vaccination exercise. "We have all the drug, medicine and personnel to carry out the exercise. We have also got assistance from our partners like World Health Organization," he said.

The Ugandan Health Ministry confirmed a polio outbreak last month in Amuru district, 12 years since the last case was reported in the country.

No case had been reported in the country since 1996 and in 2006,the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Uganda free of polio. A country is declared polio-free if no case of the disease is found for 10 years. Malinga also revealed, except one confirmed case of polio in Amuru samples, two suspected polio cases had been taken to Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe and African Regional Reference Laboratory in South Africa for testing.

The ministry is still waiting for test results.

The confirmed polio case in Amuru district, Wild Polio Virus type 1 is that of south Sudan, he said. "We are already on the ground (Amuru) carrying out supplementary massive immunization against polio," he added.

Uganda is scheduled to carry out a joint massive immunization with the Democratic Republic of Congo and southern Sudan, which is being coordinated by the WHO.

The polio virus is transmitted by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the virus. A child infected with the virus presents with acute fever followed by weakness in the limbs.