Question

(i) A viral disease which generally affects children and causes paralysis of limbs. It is about to be eradicated from the world. Name this disease.
(ii) Name the programme which was launched globally in 1995-1996 with an aim to eradicate a viral disease from the world.
(iii) What is the target age group of patients at present in this programme ?

Answer 1

i) Poliomyelitis:

1. Poliomyelitis or polio, is a disabling and life-threatening sickness due to the poliovirus.
2. This virus transmits from person to person and can infect a person's spinal cord, resulting in paralysis (inability to move bodily parts).

ii) Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme:

1. It is an immunisation campaign launched by the Indian government to eradicate poliomyelitis in the country by immunizing all children under the age of five against the polio virus.

iii) Target age group:

1. In 1995, the Indian government implemented a nationwide pulse polio vaccination (PPI) programme.
2. The term "pulse" refers to the simultaneous, mass administration of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) to all children under the age of 5.