Polio strain spreads to China from Pakistan

[singingbiscuit]

Source: BBC


Polio has spread to China for the first time since 1999 after being imported from Pakistan, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed.

It said a strain of polio (WPV1) found in China was genetically linked with the type now circulating in Pakistan.

At least seven cases have now been confirmed in China's western Xinjiang province, which borders Pakistan.

The WHO warned there was a high risk of the crippling virus spreading further during Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14997307

[Posteritatis]

1. Thanks, vaccine paranoia, for this wonderful gift. (nt)

[Demeter]

2. It's not american vaccine paranoia

and if you had been at the receiving end of American aid in the last 30 years, you'd be justifiably paranoid, too.

[enlightenment]

3. The bottom line, paranoia or no, is that

the 'eradication' of a disease is a misnomer - and eventually people pay the price for believing it. Polio is devastating and the modern world is ill-equipped to deal with an epidemic (or pandemic) of the disease because we collectively managed to convince ourselves that it would never be a problem again.

This is very tragic news.

[Demeter]

4. No argument there

[closeupready]

5. Right, because those so stricken all refused Western vaccines.

Which happened right after they all turned down the steak/potato MRE's which were offered. :sarcasm:

[Posteritatis]

6. Enough political and religious leaders refused them to let outbreaks reoccur, so sure. (nt)

[closeupready]

7. You just made that up.

Pseudo-facts - gotta love 'em, huh? They sure come in useful. ;)