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The 2019 Polio Outbreak in the Philippines is an ongoing epidemic. For the past 19 years, the Philippines was freed of any polio-related diseases. It was until the 14th of September 2019, through various testings done on a 3 year-old girl from the southern Philippines, that alarmed authorities. After a second case was confirmed, through various tests on a 5 year-old boy, the Philippines publicly declared a polio outbreak on the 19th of September 2019.

It is confirmed that the outbreak is caused by “vaccine-derived polio virus,” alluding to the poor coverage of polio healthcare across the country, and unhygienic living conditions. According to the World Health Organisation, the Philippines was eradicated of polio in the year 2000.

Outbreak & Reaction
In 19th September 2019, a polio outbreak was reported in the Philippines. After two polio cases were reported, the authorities inspected several places including Metro Manila and Davao City. Environmental Samples taken from several places were vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) positive just as it was with the first two cases. The government decided to vaccinate all the children regardless of whether they have been affected by polio or not. The Global Polio eradication Initiative (GPEI) joined hand in hand with the government in the process. A massive polio vaccination campaign was carried out in collaboration with other NGOs like Red Cross.

National Efforts
During this epidemic, WHO, UNICEF and other private medical communities are working hand in hand to help the Philippines Department of Health in conducting enormous vaccination runs throughout Metro Manila, Davao City and Marawi City, and other main cities in the country. The campaign sought to end the rise of the deadly virus. According to the Philippine Red Cross, the duration of the mass vaccination run happened between October 14 and 27, 2019. The number of children they aimed to have vaccinated is 65,000 children.

International Efforts
The outbreak of polio in the Philippines is not only proving a risk to its citizens, but other neighboring countries are keeping watch on the spread of the disease as well.

An advisory was released by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to the Philippines, in aiming to prevent the spread of polio.