In 2008 Angola has reported five polio cases, one of type-1 and the rest type-3. The May report of WHO’s Global Polio Eradication Programme says: “This is the first importation of type 3 poliovirus into Angola and genetic sequencing indicates that the first type 3 case detected (with onset of paralysis on 19 March) is related to the virus from Uttar Pradesh, India.”

Not only this, the report also observes: “The type 3 polio virus detected in Angola (a new importation from India) underlines the ongoing risk that endemic countries pose to the rest of the world.”

Earlier, in 2005, type 1 polio virus strains found in western Uttar Pradesh were traced in Angola and Congo. Then, type 1 virus was considered more dangerous as it spreads in a wider area.

However, with the finding of type-3 polio virus of UP’s strain in Angola, a question has been raised over the intensity of P3 virus as well. It is to be noted that to this date, India has reported 225 P-3 cases, out which 172 are from Bihar and 48 are from Uttar Pradesh. While Bihar has reported one P-1 virus, no P-1 has been reported in Uttar Pradesh so far.

Talking to The Indian Express, Dr Rajendra Kumar, Director General, Medical and Health, Uttar Pradesh Government, said, “We have not got any such reports of fresh importation of polio virus from UP to any other part of the world but if it is P-3, then we are not surprised because this year we have had just one round of P3 vaccination. However, we still believe that P-3 can be controlled easily and a few more rounds of P-3 vaccination in UP would mean elimination of the virus from the state.”