Cuba Begins Phase II of the Polio Vaccination Campaign

The operation, carried out to until April 27th, will involve the participation of an army of doctors and nurses from all provinces to prevent polio, a very contagious disease caused by a virus invading the nervous system and causing paralysis in a few hours.

Cuba was the first Latin American country to eradicate this disease, which – according to the World Health Organization (WHO) – has no cure, but it is preventable.

Polio vaccine, when administrated multiple times, can confer lifelong protection, the agency stresses.

Eighty five million, 200 000 doses of the vaccine were administrated in Cuba from 1962 to 2018, guaranteeing the protection of the population.

With the implementation of the Infant Vaccination Scheme, besides diphtheria, measles, pertussis, rubella, and parotitis have been eradicated, as well as two severe clinical forms in children under one year: neonatal tetanus and tuberculous meningitis.

The first symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, neck stiffness and pain in the limbs, UN health agency added.

Once polio is wiped out, the world can celebrate the achievement of crucial progress for global public health benefiting everyone equally, wherever they live, WHO considers.