Health experts respond to Malawi wild polio outbreak

Malawi is set to launch the first round of vaccination campaigns against wild polio virus type 1 this Sunday, marking the beginning of a four-round vaccination drive in five African countries. The outbreak was declared on February 17th, triggering a regional response to contain the spread of the virus. Dr. Janet Kayita, the World Health Organization representative for Malawi, joined CNBC Africa to discuss the situation. The source of the polio virus remains unknown, but it is believed to be an imported case, with laboratory tests linking it to a virus last detected in Pakistan in 2019. The government is now faced with the monumental task of vaccinating over 2.9 million children under five years old across borders. This initiative comes at a challenging time, as Malawi is also dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and cases of cholera in some districts. The economic strain on the health ministries in the affected countries is significant, with limited resources and a constrained health workforce. Coordination efforts involve various agencies such as the Global Polio eradication initiative, UNICEF, US CDC, Gavi, Gates Foundation, and Rotary International. Despite the setback, the current outbreak does not impact Africa's polio-free status, which was achieved in January. The goal now is to swiftly vaccinate all at-risk children and prevent further spread of the virus. The Ministry of Health in Malawi is leading the charge, with support from international partners and high-level political commitment from the government. The vaccination campaigns are synchronized across borders to reach mobile populations in the region. While the recent outbreak is a cause for concern, swift action and collaborative efforts are crucial in maintaining Africa's polio-free certification and ensuring the health and safety of children in the affected countries.