"世界衛生組織說小兒麻痺症爆發對敘利亞造成威脅"

敘利亞爆發了應該源自巴基斯坦的小兒麻痺症，現在可能會對整個中東的上百萬名孩童造成威脅，根據世界衛生組織表示。接壤伊拉克的代爾祖爾省的22名孩童疑似感染小兒麻痺症，有十例已經確診。

小兒麻痺症由病毒造成，此病毒經由受污染的水源和／或是食物散播，並且會藉由入侵神經系統迅速且不可逆地使人們永久癱瘓。接種比例近年下滑，由於人們認為該疾病幾乎在世界各地都被根除。

內戰導致某些區域的接種比例下滑，而五歲以下的孩童極易受此病侵擾。根據現有資訊，敘利亞五歲以下的孩童有三百萬名左右，其中大約有50萬名尚未接種小兒麻痺症和其他使人衰弱疾病的疫苗。接種過疫苗孩童的比例，2011年內戰之前有91%，現在已經掉到了68%。

疫苗推廣活動將於11月開始，將會持續至少六到八個月的期間。

(International) WHO Says Syrian Polio Outbreak Threatens Region

A polio outbreak among young children in Syria, after probably originating in Pakistan, may now pose a threat to millions of children across the Middle East, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 22 children in the Deir al-Zor province bordering Iraq have been suspected of having polio, with 10 cases confirmed.

Polio is caused by a virus transmitted through contaminated water and / or food, and can quickly and irreversibly paralyze people by invading the nervous system. Vaccination rates have dropped in recent years as the disease was considered to be almost completely eradicated worldwide.

Civil war has led to falling vaccination rates in some areas, and those under 5 years of age are extremely vulnerable. According to current information, Syria has about three million under 5s, and an approximate half a million have not been vaccinated against polio and other debilitating diseases. The rate of vaccinated children, which was 91% prior to the 2011 civil war, has now fallen to 68%.

Vaccination campaigns are set to begin in November and will last at least six to eight months.

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