Is Secret of Polio Immunity

to be Found in Highlands?

If scientists could find why natives of the New Guinea Highlands have such a high immunity to poliomyelitis, the battle against this child killer might be shortened.

IN a recent survey amongst natives in the Wabag sub district results showed that 50 per cent, of these people had anti bodies that gave protection against all three types of polio virus.

About 80 per cent, had protection against Type 3 virus, the most prevalent in Australia.

Only about 15 per cent, of inhabitants in Australian capital cities have natural protection against polio.

The survey was undertaken by Dr. Mclntosh, Professor of Anatomy at Sydney University and Dr. N.

G. Stanley, chief of the Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at Prince Henry Hospital, Sydney. The research was done on sera from the blood of Wabag natives. The survey was made possible by a Nuffield Foundation Grant.

The natives surveyed have had little contact with Europeans: the

scientists believe that their diet or living habits may give them their immunity. Dr. Stanley said in

Sydney in mid-October that wv these natives did have polio it not in as virulent a form j Europeans suffered.

He said that the results w important but not at this st£ considered in relation to development of a polio vaccinea It has been suggested, howe that a team of scientists go to c NG Highlands to try to find why so high a proportion off inhabitants are immune to disease.