Continuous surveillance vital to maintaining Nepal’s polio-free status: WHO official
Summary
WHO official Prof. Dr. Srijana Shrestha has urged Nepal to maintain continuous polio surveillance and strong immunization efforts to preserve its polio-free status. She warned that the risk of reintroduction remains as long as poliovirus exists elsewhere in the world.
Key Points
- Prof. Dr. Srijana Shrestha said Nepal must sustain surveillance and vaccination efforts to keep its polio-free status.
- She warned that poliovirus anywhere in the world can still pose a risk to Nepal because of open borders and cross-border movement.
- Shrestha stressed routine immunization for every child, especially in remote and high-risk areas, and stronger AFP surveillance.
- She said polio-eradication infrastructure should also be used to strengthen responses to other vaccine-preventable diseases.
