Namibia is suffering from its first polio outbreak in ten years, it has emerged.
"It is quite a setback for us. We were moving closer to achieving the status of polio eradication," health ministry official Dr Kalumbi Shangula said.
Seven people have died and 27 have been paralysed since mid-May. Most victims were aged over 20 and had missed out on under-five vaccination campaigns carried out since 1990.
Investigations have not been able to conclude whether the outbreak was due to faeces infested water or foodstuffs, or whether it had been brought in from outside the country.
"Preliminary results indicate a polio virus 1 Wild Type," Permanent Health Secretary Dr Shangula said
A mass public education and vaccination campaign targeting every citizen will be launched as soon as vaccines, logistics and financing have been arranged, he added.
