Rumour Impedes Polio Programme

This article describes the effect that negative rumours regarding polio vaccine are having on the polio eradication campaign in India's Saharsa district. Perceptions that the drug may be harmful to children were circulated within communities through a four-page Urdu-print document originating in Hyderabad. The rumours have lead to local minority populations angrily questioning why these allegations have not been refuted by the government.

In order to convince communities of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, authorities brought in reputed surgeon Dr. Abul Kalam to speak about the many doctors and well-known hospitals that are running polio vaccination programmes. He also encouraged villages to come forward and administer polio drops to their children.

Five poliovirus cases have been detected to date in 2007 in Saharsa.