Six international locations reported extra polio instances this week, together with Afghanistan and Pakistan with extra wild poliovirus kind 1 (WPV1) instances, based on the most recent weekly replace from the World Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
Afghanistan reported 2 new WPV1 instances, 1 in Kandahar and the opposite in Hilmand, placing its complete at 11 for the 12 months. Pakistan reported 3 extra instances, 2 in Balochistan and 1 in Punjab, boosting its quantity to 12 for 2024. Each international locations have already doubled the variety of instances they reported in 2023.
Elsewhere, 4 African international locations reported instances involving circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus kind 2 (cVDPV2). The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported 2 instances, each in Maindombe. Ethiopia reported a case in Gambella, boosting its complete to 12 for the 12 months. Nigeria additionally reported 1 extra case, in Jigawa, lifting its complete to 38. South Sudan reported 1 case in Higher Nile, making 7 infections for 2024.
WHO getting ready polio vaccine marketing campaign for Gaza
At a World Well being Group (WHO) briefing this week, Director-Basic Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, stated that, following the detection of polio in wastewater samples from Gaza, the WHO is getting ready polio vaccination campaigns and is sending greater than 1 million doses to be administer within the weeks forward.
He stated the group is mourning the sudden dying of Aidan O’Leary, who was director of the WHO’s Polio Eradication Program. Tedros stated that, earlier than O’Leary died whereas on trip along with his household, he was engaged on a plan for 2 rounds of polio vaccination in Gaza concentrating on 600,000 youngsters youthful than 8 years outdated.
“We want absolute freedom of motion for well being staff and medical gear to hold out these advanced operations safely and successfully,” Tedros stated. “A ceasefire, or not less than ‘days of tranquility’ throughout preparation and supply of the vaccination campaigns are required to guard youngsters in Gaza from polio.”
