![[Liberia] School kids in Ganta [Date picture taken: 10/27/2006]](https://assets.thenewhumanitarian.org/s3fs-public/styles/responsive_large_2x/public/images/200611109.jpg.webp?itok=YkUM9iMw "Up to 650,000 Liberian children will be vaccinated against the polio virus in Liberia (file photo)")
Liberia – declared polio-free since 2006– will be among 11 West African countries covered in a vaccination campaign to be launched 29 May by the World Health Organization (WHO).
A polio case confirmed in May in Nzérékoré, southern Guinea, near the Liberia border, is Guinea’s first since 2004, says WHO. The suspension of a vaccination campaign in Nigeria in 2003 and 2004 led to confirmed cases in 14 previously polio-free countries.
“We are doing this exercise as precaution, because of the trans-border movements of people,” said Vivian Cherue, acting Health Minister in Liberia, where the campaign will target 650,000 children. “We do not want the disease to spread to Liberia.”
Children are to be vaccinated in nine infected countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Togo) and two at-risk countries (Liberia and Sierra Leone). As of 19 May, 57 cases of polio had been reported in West Africa in 2009.
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A polio case confirmed in May in Nzérékoré, southern Guinea, near the Liberia border, is Guinea’s first since 2004, says WHO. The suspension of a vaccination campaign in Nigeria in 2003 and 2004 led to confirmed cases in 14 previously polio-free countries.
“We are doing this exercise as precaution, because of the trans-border movements of people,” said Vivian Cherue, acting Health Minister in Liberia, where the campaign will target 650,000 children. “We do not want the disease to spread to Liberia.”
Children are to be vaccinated in nine infected countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Togo) and two at-risk countries (Liberia and Sierra Leone). As of 19 May, 57 cases of polio had been reported in West Africa in 2009.
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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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