U.S. CDC ANALYZES EFFECTIVENESS OF NIGER'S POLIO VACCINE CAMPAIGN

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published an analysis in the recent issue of its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of Niger's national polio immunization campaign that was launched in November 2005. The program also involved the distribution of mosquito nets to help combat malaria.

The campaign had three phases and involved distributing polio vaccine and vitamin A to children under 5 and handing out insecticide-treated bed nets to mothers. The program ended in March.

Niger is one of a handful of countries where polio has reappeared in recent years after it was thought to have been eradicated. Poor vaccination programs in recent years have allowed a resurgence of the disease, which has spread to other nations.

The effort was led by the World Health Organization and the Red Cross. The CDC found that the campaign resulted in a 5 percent increase in the number of children who had received the polio vaccine.