First Polio case in 27 years reported in Malaysia

The Malaysian Health Ministry confirmed on Sunday, 8th December 2019 that a 3-month-old boy has been diagnosed with type vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1(VDPV1), making it the first case reported in 27 years of the highly infectious virus in Malaysia.
The last polio case was reported in Malaysia in 1992, and in the year 2000, Malaysia was declared polio-free. Vaccine-derived Poliovirus type 1 (VDPV1) originates from poliovirus that has been weakened by the orally-administered polio vaccine.
Poliomyelitis or Polio is a contagious disease that affects young children’s specially infants. The virus generally enters the body thorugh the mouth and lives in the throat and intestines of the infected person.