Hyderabad: Union Health Minister J P Nadda today “appreciated” the Telangana administration’s “quick response” after an active strain of polio virus was detected here earlier this month, the state government said.
Nadda held a review with state Health Minister C Laxma Reddy and officials last night on the vaccination drive initiated by the state and visited a polio booth at Amberpet this morning, a government release said.
He praised the state government for its response after the virus was detected, it said.
The Vaccine Derived Polio Virus (VDPV) was found in laboratory tests of samples collected from a Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) at Amberpet here.
Talking to mediapersons last night, Nadda said India remains polio free and there is no need to panic about the VDPV.
“I would like to tell the people that this Vaccine Derived Polio Virus is not a case of wild polio virus. There has been no incidence of polio virus reported for the last five years. The certification by WHO states India is polio free. That should be very clear,” the Union Minister said.
“This Vaccine Derived Polio Virus is found in testing from time to time. Such virus will be reported somewhere. There is no need to panic,” he said, adding the detection of the virus proves that “our surveillance system is robust”.
Nadda said, “2,10,626 children have been vaccinated (in the last four days). This is more than the expected number”.
One lakh additional vaccines have been provided to Telangana.
The special immunisation drive has been going on in Hyderabad and adjoining Ranga Reddy district since June 20.