Polio outbreak leads to calls for a "vaccination ceasefire" in Syria

Aid agencies are calling for a “vaccination ceasefire” in Syria to prevent an epidemic of polio there, which could re-infect the Middle East years after a global eradication campaign had rid the region of this crippling disease. The call came after an outbreak of polio was confirmed in an eastern province of Syria in late October. Most of the 10 confirmed cases were children under 2 years who had not been immunised because the country’s health system has collapsed after more than two years of civil war. Save the Children said: “Vaccination ceasefires would mean pauses …