It is noted that polio was confirmed in a three-year-old girl in the province of South Lanao.
Philippine Health Minister Francisco Duque said the virus was found in sewage in Manila and in the waters of South Davao. According to him, this gives reason to announce an outbreak in the country.
“As long as one child remains infected, children across the country and even beyond are at risk of contracting polio,” said Oyun Dendevnorov, spokesman for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the Philippines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF issued a joint statement of readiness to support the Government of the Philippines in immunizing the most vulnerable children and in strengthening epidemiological surveillance.
In March, the Philippines made the top three in measles cases.