North Wales Assembly Member has called for a Welsh Government Statement on “its support for the estimated 12,000 people in Wales who had polio, and the many more who perhaps never knew that they had it”.
Speaking in yesterday’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood also asked for a Statement on concerns raised by the British Polio Fellowship in North Wales about a cluster of cases of a new virus, Flaccid Myelitis, and the need for Wales to prepare for this.
He said:
“The British Polio Fellowship marks its 80th Anniversary this month and I call for a Welsh Government Statement on its support for the estimated 12,000 people in Wales who had polio, and the many more who perhaps never knew that they had it. I also take this opportunity to thank the British Polio Fellowship for having asked me to become their Welsh Assembly Patron.
“Three months ago, I called for a Welsh Government Statement on post-polio syndrome, highlighting the need for improved awareness, with only 7 per cent of people surveyed recognising the syndrome at all. The Fellowship wants to raise awareness amongst parliamentarians of all parties and develop this awareness in this National Assembly, as do their Group Leader in North Wales, Joan Deverell, and their Group Leader in South Wales, Coral Williams.
“They say, 'The end game is now tantalisingly within our grasp, but that we are still here supporting 120,000 living with Post-Polio Syndrome in the UK' - including those in Wales - 'shows we will not truly have consigned Polio to the history books until every last survivor with PPS is no more. British Polio has invaluable world leading knowledge of how to treat PPS; with careful self-management and defined care pathways, independent living is possible'. As their UK Chair states, 'what a wonderful present it would be if the charity’s 80th anniversary in 2019 is finally the year the world sees the global eradication of Polio, with the end game now seemingly within reach'.
Mr. Isherwood added: “When I recently met the Group Leader for the British Polio Fellowship in North Wales, she also raised with me concerns about a cluster of cases of a new virus, Flaccid Myelitis, in Glasgow and the need for Wales to prepare for this, because parents are already asking them about this and raising their concerns.
Acute Flaccid Paralysis and Acute Flaccid Myelitis cause weakness of the arms, legs or face. In the past, Acute Flaccid Paralysis was commonly due to poliovirus infection. Public Health England has seen an increase in reports of unexplained acute neurological conditions linked to this, with the majority of cases in children. Increases have also been reported in Europe and the USA.
“Public Health England declared a national incident last November to investigate this apparent increase in cases. All cases are being investigated to exclude polio and also identify other potential causes, including non-polio enterovirus infections. But we have been unable to find any reference to any discussion of this issue in Wales. Given the rising concern in England, in Scotland, in Europe and the USA, I call for a Welsh Government Statement accordingly.”
In her reply, the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans, said: “I know that you will do sterling work in terms of raising this issue amongst Assembly Members right across the Chamber, as you are doing this afternoon. With regard to the cluster of cases of a new virus that you've talked about, can I suggest that the Health Minister has some discussion with Public Health Wales to explore the issue as to how it might be best addressed in Wales and then to write to you with the conclusions of that discussion?”
