Polio cases in Namibia put S. Africa on high alert

South Africa's Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Tuesday that her country has been on full alert following the confirmation of three polio cases in neighboring Namibia.

She was informed of suspected cases in Namibia last week, after which South Africa assisted its neighbor to conduct tests and confirmed three cases.

"I have offered our assistance to my counterpart in Namibia, and we have also strengthened our own efforts in this regard," the minister was quoted as telling the National Assembly in Cape Town by the SAPA news agency.

"We are on full alert, in particular the Northern Cape which borders on Namibia," she said.

Namibia's health ministry confirmed on Tuesday that seven people had died and 27 had fallen ill after an outbreak of polio, the first in the southern African country since 1995.

The first case was reported on May 7 at the southern town of Aranos while two others were reportedly picked up at Otjiwarongo and Okahandja, online edition of local newspaper The Namibian reported on Tuesday.

Victims typically suffer from lower-limb weaknesses, acute paralysis, breathing difficulties, chest pain, cold and flu, neck stiffness, headache and dizziness.

The Namibian health authorities later sent stool, urine and blood specimens to South Africa for tests.

A massive campaign to vaccinate all 2 million Namibians is expected. The Biovac Institute in South Africa has sent 1 million doses of the polio vaccine to Namibia, said the SAPA.

Source: Xinhua