20 June, 2005 21:55 GMT
Polio is spread when unvaccinated people come into contact with the feces of those with the virus, often through water. It attacks the nervous system, causing paralysis, muscular atrophy, deformation and sometimes death.
Indonesia reported another four new cases of polio Monday, bringing the total number of people suffering from the disease to 50, only a week before a planned mass immunization.
The new cases were discovered in West Java province, where the disease was first detected in April. The outbreak -- the first in 10 years -- prompted authorities to vaccinate up to 6.5 million children last month.
A second, week-long mass vaccination is scheduled to start June 28 in West Java and Banten provinces, as well as in the capital Jakarta.
Nearly 500 New Polio Cases Worldwide
Polio is spread when unvaccinated people come into contact with the feces of those with the virus, often through water. It usually attacks the nervous system, causing paralysis, muscular atrophy, deformation and sometimes death, though only about one in 200 infected ever develop symptoms.
The
World Health Organization said nearly 500 new polio cases have been confirmed worldwide this year, and that Yemen is the worst-hit nation, with 220 cases.
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