India’s polio-free status at risk – Contaminated vaccines
India’s polio-free status is now at risk. At least 3 batches of polio vaccines have been found contaminated with type 2 polio virus. The batches contained 1.5 lakh vials. Children born after April 2016 – when the type 2 virus was withdrawn worldwide – do not have immunity to this particular virus.
The health ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) have stepped up their surveillance game. States like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana are now special concerns. That is because the contaminated vaccines were administered to children in these states.
These vaccines were manufactured a Ghaziabad-based firm, Biomed. A senior official said, “The contamination can have very serious ramifications on public health because it is tantamount to reintroducing into the community a virus that had been eradicated. The WHO and health authorities are keeping a close watch for any active strain of the virus in stool samples or in sewage.”
The ministry has set up a three-member committee. This committee will probe into the fact that how the eradicated virus got introduced again even after orders for its destruction from the manufacturing and supply chain. The panel is under a lot of pressure as it has been asked to submit its report within a week.
The managing director of Biomed was arrested on Thursday. The four of its other directors are absconding. The Drugs Controller General of India has filed an FIR and has also issued a show-cause notice to the company. The company has been ordered to stop manufacturing till further orders.
If the type-2 virus enters the sewage or water system through stool or some other pathway, it might regain neuro-virulence and spread polio. Another fear that is manifesting among the authorities is the mutation of the virus. This is a possibility within 3 to 6 months.
The government is doing all it can to prevent the outbreak of the type-2 polio virus. Such incidents of irresponsible behaviour must be prevented if we are to sustain a healthy nation.
