
The World Health Organization confirmed Monday that the polio virus had been identified in sewage water at Viracopos International Airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil -- one of many locations involved in hosting the World Cup.
Officials with WHO believe high immunity to polio among the local population prevented transmission of the disease.
"The vaccination coverage against polio in São Paulo State and Campinas municipality have been higher than 95 percent in the routine immunization program," officials wrote in a press release.
The strain found in Sao Paulo is similar to that of an outbreak in Equatorial Guinea. But while WHO officials say the risk of polio spreading out of Equatorial Guinea remains high, there is minimal risk of contracting the disease in Brazil.
Polio is a virus that attacks the nervous system and can result in paralysis or death if untreated. Many carriers of the disease don't show symptoms, which can enable its spread.
Brazil has been polio free since 1989 and widespread immunization has since become routine.
GMT 10:31 2018 Tuesday ,13 November
Russian police uproot 70 underground drug labs in past six monthsGMT 16:32 2018 Tuesday ,06 November
Rwanda aims to achieve universal access to clean water by 2024GMT 16:57 2018 Sunday ,04 November
Palestinian women witness higher cure rate of breast cancerGMT 13:11 2018 Tuesday ,30 October
Emergency surgery saves life of touristGMT 10:44 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
Scientists find microplastics in human stool for first timeGMT 09:18 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
US judge upholds Monsanto weedkiller cancer verdict, reduces payoutGMT 14:22 2018 Friday ,19 October
Birth spacing ‘improving health of Omani women’GMT 15:40 2018 Monday ,15 October
Pakistani president launches nationwide anti-measles driveMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor