The Department of Health has confirmed a third polio case in the country.
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said the third confirmed case is a four-year old female from Datu Piang in Maguindanao.
The girl did not receive any dose of the oral polio vaccine (OPV). The patient was initially reported as a case of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) on September 26, 2019.
She went to the Cotabato Regional Medical Center for consultation. The girl manifested signs and symptoms including fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle pain.
“Stool samples sent to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases – Japan showed that she tested positive for vaccine-derived poliovirus 2 (VDPV2). The polio virus isolated was genetically linked to the VDPV2 from the confirmed Polio case in Morogong, Lanao del Sur,” the DOH said in a statement.
The DOH added that samples from another suspected case were sent for testing, awaiting results and confirmation.
“As part of its polio response, the DOH will be conducting a vaccination campaign in Datu Piang, Maguindanao. This is scheduled on November 4-8 to vaccinate 4,254 children aged 0 to 59 months. Related to this, the Health Chief assured that stocks of OPV are sufficient and that preparations are underway,” DOH said.
Local officials, DOH and World Health Organization (WHO) will be meeting in Maguindanao this week to discuss the polio response.
“I enjoin all parents and guardians, to ensure that all of your children are protected from all vaccine-preventable diseases,” Duque said. (TN)
