Polio cases double in Nigeria

Cases of polio have doubled in Nigeria this year with officials fighting various strains of the virus together with an outbreak set off by the polio vaccine itself three years ago.

Figures released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that there have been 106 new cases of polio this year, compared with 54 at the same stage last year.

Nigeria has a very low immunisation rate due to a weak health system together with rumours about the safety of the vaccine.

Oral polio vaccines contain a weakened virus. However as the virus passes through children who have not been immunised it develops into a form dangerous enough to ignite new outbreaks, according to Associated Press.

Dr Bruce Aylward, director of the WHO's polio department, told the news agency: "There are just way too many kids in Nigeria who haven't been vaccinated and that's allowing the virus to spread."

A polio vaccination campaign has been launched in Pakistan to administer drops to children aged less than five years old during a three-day campaign, reports the country's Daily Times newspaper.