Polio in Somalia May Become an Explosive Outbreak

There has been a severe outbreak of polio in Somalia just days after a medical charity pulled out from the country, a source told BBC News.

According to the report, there have been at least 105 cases of polio in Somalia throughout the year and almost half the number of cases around the globe.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is doing its best in trying to eradicate polio, a source told BBC News.

According to WHO Spokesperson Olivia Rosenbauer, polio is a cause of worry because it became an explosive outbreak and it is considered as a disease that is slated for eradication.

Six years ago, Somalia was already declared polio-free and around 400 million people have been vaccinated throughout that time, the BBC finds.

This illness is also considered endemic in countries particularly Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.

A UN Humanitarian (Ocha) representative told the BBC News that it has been challenging to carry out vaccination and charity works in Somalia.

Due to extreme attacks on its staff, it has been decided that medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) be closed after 22 years of being of service to the war-torn country.

Mark Doyle, international development correspondent of the BBC said that charity works are the only health care provider in most parts of Somalia.