Malawi detects polio, first wild case in Africa in over 5 years

Polio immunisation

Kyle Anzimbu, 3, receives Polio immunisation from World Health Organization Kenya Disease Prevention and Control Officer Joyce Onsongo at the Kibera Vaccine Centre on May 26, 2021. PHOTO | LUCY WANJIRU | NATION MEDIA GROUP



Health authorities in Malawi have declared an outbreak of wild poliovirus type 1. The virus was detected in a young child in the capital Lilongwe.

In a statement, the World Health Organisation said that this is the first case of wild poliovirus in Africa in more than five years.