The polio outbreak in Syria has been in the news, e.g., "Syria Polio Outbreak Confirmed by WHO" (BBC). That is a setback for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative! Here is the summary given on World Polio Day (24 October 2013), before the cases in Syria were confirmed:
In 2013, there are reasons both for celebration and concern.
There has been remarkable progress over the last year, bringing us closer than ever to achieving a polio-free world:
• Wild poliovirus (WPV) cases in Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan – the last three endemic countries – are down 40% compared to this time last year. Poliovirus in these countries continues to be geographically restricted.
• WPV type 3 (WPV3) has not been detected anywhere in the world since November 2012.
• Afghanistan may have succeeded in halting endemic poliovirus circulation, with no cases in the traditionally endemic Southern Region since November 2012.
The polio program is preparing now to take advantage of the upcoming annual "low season" for polio transmission in early 2014: a critical opportunity to capitalize on progress and interrupt transmission in endemic countries.
At the same time, however, the urgency of interrupting transmission in these countries is only reinforced by the tapering outbreak in the Horn of Africa and this week’s reports of two suspected polio cases in Syria. As long as polio remains endemic anywhere, children everywhere will remain at risk. If children in the remaining endemic areas can be reached, the end of polio will follow, protecting children everywhere from this disease and paving the way for delivery of other life-saving interventions.
The NBC news story "Syria Polio Outbreak a Heartbreaking Setback in Struggle against Merciless Virus" begins:
Teams of volunteers are being sent to seven Middle Eastern countries to vaccinate people against polio after an outbreak in eastern Syria paralyzed at least 10 young children.
Browsing the Relative Index for "polio" leads to these entries (among others):
Poliomyelitis—incidence 614.5/49
Poliomyelitis—medicine 616.8/35
The record for 614.549 Poliomyelitis has in its upward hierarchy:
614.5 Incidence of and public measures to prevent specific diseases and kinds of diseases
614.54 Miscellaneous diseases
What about vaccination as a measure to prevent polio? Browsing the Relative Index for "vaccination" yields:
Vaccination—disease control 614.4/7
The record for 614.47 Immunization has the class-here note: "Class here vaccination." In its upward hierarchy is the record for 614.4 Incidence of and public measures to prevent disease. That record has a see reference: "For incidence of and public measures to prevent specific diseases and kinds of diseases, see 614.5." Those notes have hierarchical force. Hence both incidence of polio and vaccination against polio are classed in 614.549 Poliomyelitis. An example of a work classed in 614.549 (plus standard subdivision) is The End of Polio: A Global Effort to End a Disease, which is classed in 614.5490222 Poliomyelitis—pictures (built with 614.549 plus T1—0222 Pictures and related illustrations). The LCSH is "Poliomyelitis" plus the form subdivision "Pictorial works."
The other Relative Index entry cited above (Poliomyelitis—medicine 616.8/35), with its subheading "medicine," indicates that the comprehensive medicine number for polio is 616.835 Poliomyelitis. An example of a comprehensive work classed in 616.835 (plus standard subdivision) is Polio, which is classed in 616.835009 Medical history of polio, built with 616.835 plus 616.1-616.9:009 History, geographic treatment, biography, as instructed in the add footnote at 616.835 and under 616.1-616.9 Specific diseases. The first LCSH is "Poliomyelitis" plus the topical subdivision "History" and the form subdivision "Juvenile literature."
See also earlier blog entries about efforts to control other communicable diseases: measles, influenza, and cholera.
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