KOTA KINABALU: No new polio cases were reported in the State since Dec 6 when a three-month-old boy from Tuaran was diagnosed with the virus – the first case in 27 years after Malaysia was declared free of the disease.
The infant who is in stable condition is still being treated in the hospital’s isolation room and being given respiratory assistance.
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In the wake of this case, the State Health Department noted an increase in the number of people coming forward to get their children vaccinated.
The Department together with the State Health and People’s Wellbeing Ministry are not taking any chances in efforts to encourage people to come for if they have defaulted in any of the immunisation schedule.
All health facilities have been directed to ensure that Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) cases are monitored and carried out for polio virus detection.
“The clinic is there, people can access our clinics, some private practitioners also give immunisation, the issue to access is individual issues, not so much that we are not providing immunisation,” said State Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister, Datuk Frankie Poon, and State Health Director, Datuk Dr Christina Rundi, in a joint media conference here, Tuesday.
The number on how many have actually come forward was not immediately established as the data is updated every day and collected at the various level before it gets aggregated by the Department at the headquarters’ level.
They again advised people to immediately seek treatment at nearby health facilities in the event of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) symptoms.
Typical characteristic involves one leg or arm and rarely affects both limbs. The signs and symptoms of AFP depends on the cause but common symptoms include; muscle atrophy, fever onset, respiratory insufficiency, tingling of the palms and soles of the feet, cramps, and sensory loss, and loss of bladder control.
“Polio is one of the most contagious diseases that can be prevented by immunisation. Thus the best way to prevent polio is through immunisation. Infectious diseases such as polio do not recognise boundaries,” they said.
As of Dec 14, preventive and control measures taken by the Department in Tuaran saw a total of 1,553 people examined and none with AFP symptoms were detected.
A total of 59 children between the ages of two-months and 15-years-old in the area (Tuaran) have also been given polio immunisation. All involved documented non-Malaysians.
On the reason why these children haven’t had their shots, Dr Rundi said: “They have their reasons for whatever it is.”
When implied that it could be due to previous arguments that vaccines contained porcine DNA, Dr Rundi said the final evaluation on the matter showed that vaccines do not contain porcine DNA.
In 2015, anti-vaccination groups claimed that vaccines administered to newborn babies contained porcine DNA. The allegations were rubbished by the then Deputy Health Minister, Datuk Seri Hilmi Yahaya who verified that a comprehensive check on vaccine samples found no porcine DNA.
Meanwhile, Investigation to identify the cause of infection is still ongoing in Tuaran, and this includes the sampling of faeces from 20 of the infected infant’s close contacts. The laboratory test result is still pending.
Similarly, six environmental samples were taken for detection of the presence of polio germs and awaiting laboratory results. Samples were also taken from six waste treatment plants in Tuaran, which to date detected no polio germs The people are reminded to practice good hygiene, especially the practice of regular hand washing and proper hygiene.
Polio germs can be transmitted through food or beverages contaminated with polio germs, contaminated hands by polio-containing pollutants or when objects, such as toys, which are contaminated by stains containing polio germs, are put in the mouth.
The supplementary vaccination campaign carried out by the State Health Department will be expanded to districts which had AFP cases in the past.
Among areas mentioned are Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Putatan, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kunak and Semporna.
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