UN says 1st local polio case found in Zambia since 1995

World Health Organization says Zambia has reported its first local case of polio since 1995, in a 2-year-old boy paralyzed by a virus derived from vaccine. In a report this week, WHO said case was detected on border with Congo, which has reported 37 cases of polio traced to vaccine this year.

U.N. health ncy said re is established link between Zambia case and Congo outbreak but increased efforts are needed to prevent international spre. In rare cases, live virus in oral polio vaccine can mutate into a form capable of sparking new outbreaks. Nine African countries are currently battling polio epidemics linked to vaccine as WHO and partners struggle to keep ir efforts to ericate polio on track.