Panic Among Parents After Polio-Related Death Rumours
A rumour of death of two infants after taking polio drops, triggers panic among parents in the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border. A local Kannada channel news telecast that many children in Bangalore had died after taking the drops, also created panic in different parts of the city.
Project Director of Pulse Polio Programme, M.R. Mohan Raj claimed that no child was confirmed sick or dead after taking the polio drops. Mysore Bureau also reported the similar news that many parents who had got their children vaccinated in the morning, brought their wards to the Cheluvamba Hospital for a check-up. But the state health department denied any deaths.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East), Bangalore, BK Singh said: “A local Kannada channel flashed the news and it soon spread. SMS was also used to spread the rumour. Everybody had come out on the road thinking that there is something wrong with this pulse polio vaccine. There has not even been a single sickness in entire Karnataka.”
