WHO has warned of the risk of polio returning to Europe through Ukraine.

Ukraine poses a high risk of polio returning to the European continent, the European Bureau of the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement.
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The organization warns that after more than 20 years of polio being absent from the European continent, the risks of its return are increasing.

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“Conflicts pose a particular threat to the functioning of immunization programs. The WHO European Commission for the Certification of Polio Eradication has expressed concern that Ukraine remains at high risk of sustained transmission of poliovirus in the event of introduction of wild virus or circulating vaccine-derived virus due to suboptimal immunity population,” the document says.

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Polio is a viral disease that can cause paralysis and even death. The virus is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, most often through contaminated food and water. Symptoms can range from mild fever and sore throat to severe neurological problems requiring emergency medical attention. Without vaccination, polio can lead to serious consequences, including disability.