Measures for the prevention of Polio

18 Jul 2005

Question No:  114  

Question

Name of the Person: Mr Leong Horn Kee, MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC

To ask the Minister for Health in view of the recent global increase of polio infection cases, what actions are being taken by his Ministry to guard against the spread of this disease in Singapore, especially against the spread from external sources.

Reply

Reply From MOH

Polio vaccination was introduced in Singapore in 1962. All new-borns have since been vaccinated against polio starting from 3 months of age, and given boosters when they are in Primary 1 and 6. We have thus maintained very high immunization rates which confer 'herd' immunity in our population. Even if there is an infection from external sources, it will not spread. The last local case of polio was reported in 1978 and the last imported case in 1986. 

Our high standard of hygiene and modern system of sewage disposal also minimizes the transmission of poliomyelitis through the faecal-oral route, which is the main cause of transmission in the community. There is thus very little risk of a polio outbreak in Singapore. 

Though we have already eradicated polio locally, we will continue to maintain a high degree of surveillance to check for imported polio cases. 

Despite the detection of isolated cases in Indonesia recently, WHO reports that polio is close to eradication. In 1988, there were 350,000 cases. Last year, there were only 1,266 cases.