Updated on Sunday, December 10, 2006, 00:00 IST

New Delhi, Dec 10: Indian and international experts will review polio situation in the country and thrash out future strategies to eliminate the virus that has affected 583 children this year.

India Experts Advisory Group (IEAG) on polio, in a two-day meeting here from tomorrow, will also decide whether Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) should be used in future polio vaccination programme or not.

"We will review the current epidemiological situation and will also plan future strategies to control polio from the country," an officer of the national polio programme told a news agency today.

He said apart from experts from WHO and UNICEF, health secretaries and senior officers from polio-affected states will be part of the meeting.

"This is the second meeting this year on polio. We had earlier met on may this year," he said.

The officer said they will also discuss the use of injectibles for future use.

"The use of injectibles means we need that many health workers and infrastructure. Also, they are helpful only for individual immunity and will not have any effect in eliminating the virus from the country," he said.

He said that at the meeting it will be also decided that if IPV is being used, which area to target and when.

"We have to try it first in those districts which are worst-affected," he added.

Bureau Report