In a significant development, India has not reported any case of wild polio in last three years.

New Delhi, Jan 13/Nationalturk – Indian Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Monday said no case of wild polio was reported in India in last three years.

“Not a single case of wild polio has been reported from any part of the country since the past three years,” Azad said today.

He said 36 months ago the last case was reported on 13th January, 2011 when a two year old girl suffered polio paralysis in Howrah district of West Bengal State.

Until 2009, India accounted for more than half of world’s polio incidence.  While 741 cases were reported in 2009, 42 in 2010 and just one case in 2011.

‘It is a matter of great pride for India’

Azad said reporting of no case of wild polio in the country in last three years is a matter of great pride for India.

“This monumental milestone was made possible due to unwavering political will at the highest levels, commitment of adequate financial resources, technological innovations like the bivalent vaccine and tireless efforts of millions of workers, including more than 2.3 million vaccinators and volunteers, and more than 0.15 million supervisors,” he said.

Indian Health Minister said official announcement of a polio free nation will be made on 11 February 2014.

“India’s unprecedented progress against polio will pave the way for polio free certification of the entire South East Asia Region of WHO in the first quarter of 2014,” he added.

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