UN finds polio among Madagascar’s children
An outbreak of polio in three children from the south of Madagascar has raised concerns over a possible resurgence of this crippling disease.
The UN children’s fund (Unicef) has called for urgent action to prevent its spread.
Unicef spokesman Daniel Timme says three cases of polio without symptoms have been identified.
The disease was discovered during Unicef’s Mother and Child Health week following tests and urine samples.
Mr Timme said that the symptoms could emerge in these children at any time.
Polio vaccination programmes must reach at least 80 to 90% of the population of the region to be effective.
Otherwise there is a risk that non-vaccinated children could produce a mutation of the polio disease.