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The media has reported on two case of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in West Bengal.
The first case is a 5 month-old child from Murshidabad district and the (AFP) has been confirmed as vaccine-derived-poliovirus (VDPV) (Type 2) associated polio.
The second case of AFP is an 18 month-old child from South 24 Paragans district in West Bengal. Further information, confirmation and poliovirus type is awaited for this second case.
These cases are not thought to be geographically linked as Murshidabad district is in the northern part of West Bengal bordering with Bangladesh, whereas South 24 Parganas district is in the south of the state, on the Bay of Bengal, bordering with Kolkata.
In 2011, 7 cases of VDPV were reported and every month around 5000 cases of acute flaccid paralysis are identified and investigated across the country. Symptoms of AFP can be caused by a number of different pathogens one of which is poliovirus.
The confirmed case of VDPV does not affect the WHO status for India in that they have 'successfully interupted the transmission of wild poliovirus' with no cases of poliomyelitis reported for the whole of 2011. It will be 3 years with no cases before India will be declared 'polio free'.
Advice for Travellers
It is recommended that travellers have a poliomyelitis booster (or course) if not already protected and take precautions with food, water and personal hygiene.
