The health authorities want to have each and every Namibian citizen immunized against polio after seven people died after an outbreak of polio which affected 34 people so far, the ministry of health and social services announced this week. It is the first outbreak since 1995 according to Dr Kalumbi Shangula (photo), permanent secretary in the ministry. He called a press conference to announce the results of laboratory tests done in South Africa, which confirmed polio, a paralysing disease. The majority of
cases were reported in and around the capital Windhoek. The first case reported was in Aranos on 10 May, which affected a 76- year old person. Twelve cases were reported among Namibians aged 24 to 29. "We have to embark on a massive campaign to vaccinate all two million citizens in the country in due course," Shangula added. "This is quite a setback to our national efforts to eradicate the disease". He said even people who were vaccinated recently or 30 years ago would have to be vaccinated again.
Shangula said.

Photo: Brigitte Weidlich