- Gondwana Desert Collection/ News


		Polio in Namibia - 22.06.06 The first stage of a countrywide polio inoculation campaign got underway in Namibia yesterday. Previously, tens of thousands of children had already been given oral vaccinations. With these steps the public health authority is responding to the unexpected outbreak of polio at the end of last month. The number of people who got infected so far is thought to be 104; 15 of them have died.

		According to UNICEF it is the first outbreak of polio in Namibia since 1996. Nigeria is likely to be the focus of the disease. Like India, Pakistan and Afghanistan it is one of the last four countries where polio has not been eradicated yet. Cases have also been reported from the Yemen and Indonesia.

		Current and future holidaymakers in Namibia have no reason to panic. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) recommends that tourists get a booster shot about two weeks before their envisaged arrival. During their stay guests should always make sure that they are drinking clean water, and they should wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet. The virus is mainly spread through faeces.

		Gondwana’s employees in the nature reserves will be vaccinated by mobile units of the Ministry of Health. High standards of hygiene are routinely maintained at the parks’ accommodation facilities. Staff members who handle food are thoroughly examined once a year when a team of doctors do their rounds through all the parks.


		- For more about polio see www.unicef.org