Polio Scare in Meghalaya: Two-Year-Old Suspected of Infection Spurs Investigation

A two-year-old boy in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district shows symptoms of polio, prompting health authorities to investigate. The state was declared polio-free in 2014, with the last case detected in 2011. Health officials and WHO are examining the situation, especially focusing on high unvaccinated clusters.

A two-year-old boy in a remote village in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district has shown symptoms of poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, according to health officials on Wednesday.

The World Health Organisation declared the state polio-free in 2014, with the last recorded case in 2011, underscoring the gravity of this recent development.

'A boy suspected of having poliomyelitis was identified during routine surveillance yesterday. He has been sent to Assam's Goalpara for further treatment,' a senior doctor at the Directorate of Health Services revealed to PTI.

Authorities in the northeastern state have initiated an investigation. A team of WHO doctors has arrived in Tikrikilla village to collect samples and further examine the situation.

The village where the suspected case was found is a known cluster with a significant number of unvaccinated residents, officials noted.

(With inputs from agencies.)