After remaining polio-free for 19 months, Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh has reported a case of P1 polio, sending alarm bells ringing in the health department.

Two-year-old Zunaid from Menolta, one of the high-risk blocks in Moradabad, has been found infected with P1 virus despite getting at least seven doses of the vaccine for this particular virus. His samples have been sent for genetic sequencing in order to find out the virus’s origin.

In 2006, Moradabad was the epicentre of a polio outbreak. International health agencies, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), had declared Moradabad as the only place in the world that was actively exporting wild polio virus to other countries. Many countries had then made polio vaccination certification a mandatory requirement for Indian children travelling abroad.

Having been able to control the spread of P1 virus, the most virulent polio virus, in the district for around two years, the health agencies were optimistic that the fight against polio would be won by the end of this year. However, the feel-good picture has been spoiled. First, cases were reported from Badaun. And now comes this case from Moradabad. Alarmed, the state Government as well as the WHO have started taking steps to counter the spread of the virus.

The state Government is holding a special mop-up polio vaccination drive on August 26 in 13 high-risk districts of Western UP. “All we can say is that we are doing our best and a special mop-up vaccination drive for P1 virus has been scheduled for August 26,” said Dr M L Khatloiya, director general of Family Welfare Department.

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