Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 22:20:09 -0500 (EST)
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promed.isid.harvard.edu>
Subject: PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis, vaccination deaths - India (Assam)
POLIOMYELITIS, VACCINATION DEATHS - INDIA (ASSAM) ************************************************* A ProMED-mail post <http://www.promedmail.org> ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org> [see also: 2000 ---- Poliomyelitis, suspected - India: post-vaccination 20001220.2234] Date: Mon 12 Nov 2001 23:22:27 -0600 From: Henry V. Huang <huang@borcim.wustl.edu> Source: BBC News Online, Mon 12 Nov 2001 [edited] <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1651000/1651863.stm> Morbidity and Mortality after Polio vaccination in Assam -------------------------------------------------------- CALCUTTA: At least 10 children have died in India's northeastern state of Assam of side effects after being administered a vaccine during an polio immunisation campaign run by the state government. More than 500 children have been admitted to government and private hospitals after falling sick. Angry groups of parents have surrounded offices of the local administration in protest in Assam's southern city of Silchar. On Sunday, thousands of children were administered a polio vaccine throughout Assam and the rest of the country. But within a day of the massive polio immunisation campaign, reports have come in of large-scale side effects in and around the city of Silchar in southern Assam. Officials say 9 children have died in one village -- Labok -- while one died in Malugram locality of Silchar. Non-governmental organisations in Silchar who assist the government in this campaign say outdated vaccines were possibly supplied in some areas. But officials were not willing to speculate on the causes of the large-scale side effects. [Byline: Subir Bhaumik] -- Henry V. Huang Dept. of Molecular Microbiology Washington U. School of Medicine Box 8230, 660 S. Euclid Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110-1093 USA <huang@borcim.wustl.edu> [Dr. Huang comments that: The children became sick the day after the vaccine campaign, so it's unlikely that the vaccine per se is the problem. However, potential problems with that batch of vaccines, e.g., contamination, failure of cold chain, etc., are possible. - Mod.CP] ....................cp/pg/es *##########################################################* ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the information, and of any statements or opinions based thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID and its associated service providers shall not be held responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted or archived material. ************************************************************ Visit ProMED-mail's web site at <http://www.promedmail.org>. Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org (NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send commands to subscribe/unsubscribe, get archives, help, etc. to: majordomo@promedmail.org. For assistance from a human being send mail to: owner-majordomo@promedmail.org. ############################################################ ############################################################