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News Sport Weather World Service Languages Low Graphics version | Change edition About BBC News | Feedback | Help News Front Page Africa Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East South Asia UK Business Health Science/Nature Technology Entertainment ----------------- Have Your Say In Pictures Week at a Glance Country Profiles In Depth Programmes LANGUAGES MORE > Last Updated: Monday, 6 September, 2004, 09:49 GMT 10:49 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version Huge Nigerian drive against polio Nigeria is one of six countries where polio is endemic Some 13 million children in northern Nigeria are being vaccinated against polio in a bid to wipe out the disease. About 250,000 technicians are making house calls to reach all children under five in eight states, which have become the world's polio epicentre. Last year, an immunisation campaign was halted in northern Nigeria after Islamic clerics said it was unsafe. Nigeria now accounts for about 80% of new cases and 12 previously polio-free African nations have been reinfected. Fertility fears Vaccinations were restarted in July after the clerics were satisfied with vaccines shipped in from Indonesia. But July's campaign only reached some 60% of the region's children. Kano residents give their views on the polio campaign In pictures The clerics, based in northern Nigeria's biggest city Kano, had said that the original vaccine was part of a US plot to make Muslim women infertile. This was strongly denied by the World Health Organization (WHO). Once the new programme is completed, Nigeria will prepare for a synchronised vaccination campaign - which will run in 22 countries - at the beginning of October as part of final efforts to rescue the WHO goal of wiping out polio worldwide by 2005. Polio, which mainly affects children under five, is caused by a virus that invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or death. The disease is considered endemic in only six countries - Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Niger, Nigeria, and Pakistan. When the eradication drive was launched in 1988, polio was a serious problem in 125 countries. E-mail this to a friend Printable version LINKS TO MORE AFRICA STORIES SelectWelcome for freed Kenyan truckersAfrikaner apartheid critic diesUN 'wrong' over Burundi massacreThousands flee new Darfur clashesMilitia advances on Somali portE Guinea allowed to quiz ThatcherCameroon players back presidentHuge Nigerian drive against polioYoung Zimbabwe still upbeatUN appeal to stop locust 'plague'SA man charged for 'nuclear bomb'Nigeria seeks Bakassi referendumTutsis boycott Burundi cabinetLibya inks $35m Berlin bomb dealSomalia's rocky road to peaceSpotlight catches Sudan's red tapeNigerians put down new roots in IrelandCan Blair save Africa from poverty?Do you have a story to tell?Send us your pictures of AfricaProgrammes and schedules  SEE ALSO: Polio epidemic warning for Africa 22 Jun 04  |  Health Nigerian state thwarts polio push 22 Mar 04  |  Africa Q&A: Nigerian fears threaten polio drive 23 Feb 04  |  Africa WHO moves to calm polio fears 20 Jan 04  |  Africa Polio cases on the increase 25 Apr 03  |  Health WHO adopts new polio strategy 13 May 03  |  Health RELATED INTERNET LINKS: Global Polio Eradication Initiative World Health Organization UN Children's Fund The Last Child The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites TOP AFRICA STORIES NOW Welcome for freed Kenyan truckers Afrikaner apartheid critic dies UN 'wrong' over Burundi massacre Thousands flee Darfur clashes News alerts | E-mail services | Desktop ticker | Mobiles/PDAs Back to top ^^ News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes BBC Homepage >> | BBC Sport >> | BBC Weather >> | BBC World Service >> About BBC News | Help | Feedback | News sources | Privacy & Cookies Policy | About the BBC

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