The World Health Organization confirmed yesterday that there has been a new polio outbreak in war-torn Syria.
The UN health agency reported that 10 cases of polio had been found in then northeastern Syrian province of Deir Al Zour. Those affected were all under the age of two, raising fears that the disease could rapidly spread amongst the estimated 500,000 Syrian children who have not been vaccinated due to two years of warfare.
The WHO has begun a vaccination drive in Syria and in neighboring countries, and it hopes to reach 1.6 million children in the coming six months. The organization worries that because of the flow of refugees out of Syria that polio could rapidly spread across the region.
Polio has been treated for decades by the use of vaccinations, and there is no cure for the disease. It remains endemic in three countries – Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria – down from 125 countries in the late 1980s.
Syria has been embroiled in conflict for over two and a half years, cutting many civilians off from adequate health care, education, and food supplies. The Syrian government controls limited parts of the country, and those under the control of rebels do not necessarily have services restored yet.