Polio Threat Adds to Suffering

Polio, which can paralyse small children, has become the latest threat to refugees already struggling with famine and disease in the camps of Darfur.

Sudan is one of 12 countries that had been polio-free for at least two years but are now again seeing cases of paralysis as a direct result of a major outbreak in northern Nigeria.

There have been 453 cases of polio in Kano, Nigeria, because controversy over the polio vaccine in the Muslim province led to cessation of immunisation. Although immunisation in Kano started again two weeks ago, major efforts will be needed across much of Africa to contain the outbreak.

One case was identified in Darfur earlier in the year. Yesterday it was confirmed there have been three more, all caused by the Nigerian polio strain.

Two more countries that were free of polio have had cases, it was revealed yesterday, taking the total from ten in June to 12 now - Mali and Guinea are outside the ring of African states around Nigeria and Niger where mass immunisation took place in February and March in an effort to check the spread.

African Union health ministers have agreed a campaign to reach 74 million children under five years old, but it will be able to go ahead only if more money is forthcoming from donors.

Six countries have never been polio-free. There have been 453 cases in Nigeria this year, 33 in India, 21 in Pakistan, 19 in Niger, three in Afghanistan, and one in Egypt.