First polio case detected in Africa after five years
The first wild polio virus case has been detected for the first time in five years in Africa.
Poliomyelitis, commonly known as Polio, is an infectious disease that weakens a person's muscles, resulting in paralysis.
The virus infected a Malawian child and the country's authorities has now declared an official outbreak of the virus.
What risk does this pose for global health still in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic?
Dr John Vertefeuille, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains what "wild polio" is, and how it can affect people.
He says: "Any case of polio anywhere in the world, is a significant event. With the goal of eradication, we aim to see no cases, and any child paralysed, is a child too many paralysed".
(Photo: Polio virus, illustration. Credit: Getty Images)
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