Ministry postpones polio immunisation campaign

Staff Writer | Wednesday February 23, 2011 00:00

The campaign was scheduled to start this weekend but has been put-off indefinitely. A press release from the ministry said the immunisation campaign has become necessary  after reports of a polio outbreak in Angola. The disease is reported to be highly infectious and can easily be imported into the country. 'Constant population movements across borders may facilitate importation of the virus into Botswana. So the exercise (immunisation) is aimed at preventing possible outbreaks in the above mentioned districts,' the release stated. It is not clear whether similar campaigns to be undertaken in Angola, Namibia and Zambia from February 25-27 will still take place. 

The polio virus is transmitted easily from person to person primarily through eating food and water contaminated with infected human excreta. A person with polio may experience sudden weakness or paralysis of the limbs leading to difficulty in walking, fever, severe headache, stiff neck, deep muscle pain, difficulty in swallowing food or drinking. The ministry has advised the public to promptly report to the nearest health facility if a child shows sudden weakness of the limbs without any history of injury.  The ministry says people should practice good personal hygiene such as washing hands with clean water and soap after visiting the toilet before handling food.

The ministry advises people to cook food well and eat it while still hot. Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed.

Vegetables should be properly cooked before eating while only safe and treated water should be drank. The public has been advised to dispose of human excreta properly including that of infants.