New Delhi: With at least three batches of contaminated vaccines being found with type 2 virus of polio, India may soon lose its ‘polio-free’ status. The matter came to light after reports of stool samples of children from UP contained traces of the virus. Following this, the Union Health Ministry has set up a three-member committee to search for the source of the virus.
Previously, polio was officially eradicated from India in March 2014, but now it might be resurrected with the three batches amounting to almost 1.5 lakh vaccines.
These contaminated vaccines were manufactured by Ghaziabad-based Biomed and have been distributed to Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana. The vaccines coming out of the company were tested positive for the virus. The panel has been asked to report by the end of this week.
The director of Biomed has been arrested as reported by the Ghaziabad Police but they have also reported that four more directors are on the run.
The Drugs Controller General of India has asked the company to stop its manufacture and sale until further orders.
