No polio cases reported in last nine years: Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu government today said the state has not reported a single polio case in the last nine years, as it prepares for the second round of Pulse Polio Campaign in which two lakh personnel would be employed.
In the first round of the polio campaign held on January 20 last year, 70.30 lakh children under the age of five years were administered with polio drops, state Public Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said, adding, the second round of the immunisation programme was scheduled to begin from tomorrow.
"Tamil Nadu has not reported any polio case for the past nine years. However, it is very much important to administer polio drops to all children during Pulse Polio Campaign in order to protect children from possible importation of Polio virus from other parts of the Country/World," he said in a statement.

Elaborate arrangements have been made for the second round, which involves administering drops to children covered in the first round also, he said, adding, 40,000 booths have been established across the state for this purpose.
Over 1000 transit booths will be functioning in major bus stands, railway stations and airports during the campaign days to cover children on travel. These booths would function for three days, he said.
Further, 771 mobile teams will serve "remote and inaccessible areas," and about two lakh personnel from various government departments besides NGOs would be involved in the "mega campaign", he said.