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U.P. blames Centre for spurt in polio cases

Special Correspondent

Of the 280 polio cases detected in the country this year, Uttar Pradesh accounts for 254 victims

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Government on Friday blamed the Central Government for a fresh spurt in polio cases across the State.

Of the 280 new polio cases detected in the country this year, Uttar Pradesh has accounted for 254 polio victims in 28 districts. The fresh polio cases were reported predominantly from western U.P., with Moradabad district leading with 56 cases, followed by Muzaffarnagar and Budaun with 21 cases each, Meerut 20, Jyotiba Phule Nagar 19, Rampur and Bijnor 17 each and Bareilly 12. Four polio cases were reported from Lucknow district.

Only 29 cases were reported in UP in 2005. This year the increase has been phenomenal.

Talking to newspersons, State Family Welfare Minister Ahmed Hasan accused the Central Government of a misinformation campaign and creating a false sense of panic among the recipient families of polio drops, particularly in Muslim-dominated areas.

Asserting that there was no resistance from the Muslims, Mr. Hasan said certain misconceptions about polio drops were being spread by some vested interests. He refused to disclose their names, stating that he was reviewing the matter.

Elaborating on the causes of the increase in cases, the Minister said the pulse polio campaign area had been reduced. Pleading not guilty in this regard on behalf of the State Government, Mr. Hasan said the Central Government, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF were involved in the campaign.

Hinting at reduced potency of the polio vaccine, Mr. Hasan said earlier the polio victims were disabled but in the recent spurt of cases it was found that the disease struck children who were administered polio drops.

Besides, the Minister said, it was noticed in some of the cases reported this year that the victims were partially disabled.

Stating that the victims might have been affected by a virus whose strain was present in the vaccine, the Minister held WHO accountable for the supply of polio vaccines.

Mr. Hasan said earlier the vaccines were tested at Noida but for the last two years they were being tested at Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh. He said the cold chain system had also been suspended for the last two years.

When his attention was drawn to the fact that this arrangement had been terminated by the State Government, the Minister drew a blank. He added that the cold chain system would be revived.

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