中非数百万人将接种小儿麻痹症疫苗

Aid agencies are planning to immunise three million people in central Africa after a polio outbreak, which has killed more than 100 people.

非洲中部爆发小儿麻痹症，导致100多人死亡，救援机构计划向三百多万人接种疫苗。

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Polio can cause paralysis and death if left untreated

Hundreds more have been paralysed（瘫痪，麻痹） by the disease, authorities have said.

The disease broke out in Congo-Brazzaville, but has also affected² parts of neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.

The government said the vast majority of deaths had occurred in the city of Pointe-Noire in Congo-Brazzaville.

Congo-Brazzaville had previously³ recorded its last case of indigenous⁴（本土的，国产的） polio in 2000.

The vaccination⁵ plan is being conducted by several aid agencies, including Unicef and the World Health Organization (WHO).

'Not immunised'

"The first round of a mass vaccination campaign targeting three million people will begin Friday, in response to a polio epidemic⁶ which has unusually claimed a majority of adult victims," said a joint⁷ statement.

The majority of reported cases and deaths had occurred in males aged⁸ over 15.

Polio, which damages the nervous system, causing paralysis and death if untreated, normally strikes young children.

The immunisation plan will start in Pointe-Noire, the epicentre of the outbreak, and extend to surrounding areas.

"Every man, every woman, every child will be immunised irrespective of（不论） their past immunisation status," said Dr Luis G Sambo, WHO's regional director for Africa.

"This way we can be assured that everybody is reached, including young adults, whose immunity⁹ may be low."

Congo's director general of health, Alexis Elira Dokekias, said the victims had either not been sufficiently¹⁰ immunised or not immunised at all.

Reports say women and girls may have developed some immunity to the disease through contact with babies that had been immunised.

In 2000 and 2001, the Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Gabon carried out synchronised campaigns against the polio virus.