"The last case of polio that was reported in South Africa was in 1989", Minister Uys said. "But as long as there are still cases of the poliovirus elsewhere in the world, polio can be imported to a polio free area such as the Western Cape", he said.

Polio however can be prevented by ensuring that all children under the age of five are immunisised. Minister Uys said polio is a highly infectious and crippling disease and can lead to permanent lameless, deformity and even death. Polio cannot be cured.

The polio virus is passed from person to person through unwashed hands, contaminated food or in situations of poor sanitation. Polio can be suspected when there is sudden weakness of the leg or arm or both, or other parts of the body.

Minister Uys urged parents to ensure that there children get their polio drops.It is recommended that these drops are given at birth , 6 weeks , 10 weeks, 14 weeks , 18 months and 5 years. Minister Uys said these drops are available at all our clinics throughout the province.

Minister Uys said his department will be enhancing awareness amongst health care workers and the public in general about the global goal to eradicate polio.It means that the virus will be wiped out from the face of the earth. The global eradication of polio involves both the halting of the incidence of the disease and the worldwide eradication of the virus. The strategy is based on the premise that the poliovirus will die out if it is deprived of its human host through immunisation.

Minister Pierre Uys
Herman v.d. Westhuizen: 082 772 9161

Ms H Isaacs
Ministry of Health
4 Dorp Street, Cape Town
Telephone: 021 483 5477
Fax: 021 483 4143
Email: hisaacs@pgwc.gov.za