Immunizations ongoing in Malawi
No new Wild Polio case was reported this week.
What is that Polio Picture? Immunizations ongoing in Malawi.
Malawi – As a result of ongoing disease surveillance, the Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN) has confirmed the presence of type 1 wild poliovirus (WPV1) in a child suffering from paralysis in Tsabango, Lilongwe, Malawi. Analysis shows that the virus is genetically linked to WPV1 was detected in Pakistan’s Sindh province in October 2019.
The three-year-old girl in Malawi experienced the onset of paralysis on 19 November 2021, and stool specimens were collected for testing on 26 and 27 November. Sequencing of the virus conducted in February by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed this case as WPV1.
Detection of WPV1 outside the world’s two remaining endemic countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, is a serious concern and underscores the importance of prioritizing polio immunization activities. Until polio is fully eradicated, all countries remain at risk of importation and must maintain high vaccination coverage to protect all children from polio.
The GPEI is supporting health authorities in Malawi to conduct a thorough assessment of the situation and begin urgent immunization activities in the sub-region to mitigate any risk of spread. Surveillance measures are also being expanded in Malawi and neighboring countries to detect any other potential undetected transmission.
As an imported case from Pakistan, this detection does not affect the WHO African Region’s wild poliovirus-free certification status officially marked in August 2020. Malawi last recorded a case of wild poliovirus in 1992. The polio eradication program has seen importations from endemic countries to regions that have been certified wild poliovirus-free in the past and have moved quickly to successfully stop transmission of the virus in these areas.
Afghanistan
After the safe and successful rollout of nationwide polio campaigns since November 2021, we have received the tragic news that 8 health workers at the forefront have been killed this morning in a series of shootings in Takhar and Kunduz in northeast Afghanistan. The vaccination campaign has been suspended in both provinces.
A statement has been issued by the Regional Director of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, as well as by the United Nations in the country, condemning these attacks, expressing condolences to the families, and underscoring that the provision of health and the safety of health workers at the forefront are paramount, and must be kept neutral to any geo-political situation anywhere.
Our thoughts and prayers are both with the families and our teams on the ground at this time.
A Win Against Polio is a Win for Global Health!
2022 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Case Total – 4 DR Congo – 1 (26 in 2021), Madagascar – 1 (12 in 2021), Nigeria – 1 (415 in 2021), Somalia – 1 (1 in 2021).
2021 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 635 – Afghanistan – 43 (308 in 2020), Angola – 0 (3 in 2020),Benin – 2 (3 in 2020), Burkina Faso – 1 (65 in 2020), Cameroon – 3 (7 in 2020), CAR – 0 (4 in 2020), Chad – 0 (99 in 2020), Congo – 2 (2 in 2020), Cote d’ Ivoire – 0 (64 in 2020), DR Congo – 26 (81 in 2020), Ethiopia – 10 (36 in 2020), Ghana – 0 (11 in 2020), Guinea – 6 (44 in 2020), Guinea Bissau – 3 (0 on 2020), Liberia – 3 (0 in 2020),Madagascar – 12 (2 in 2020), Mali – 0 (52 in 2020), Malaysia – 0 (1 in 2020), Mozambique – 2, Niger – 15 (10 in 2020), Nigeria – 415 (8 in 2020), Pakistan – 8 (135 in 2020), Philippines – 0 (1 in 2020), Senegal – 17 (0 in 2020) ,Sierra Leone – 5 (10 in 2020), Somalia – 1 (14 in 2020), South Sudan – 9 (50 in 2020), Sudan – 0 (58 in 2020), Tajikistan – 32 (1 in 2020), Togo – 0 (9 in 2020), Ukraine – 2 (0 in 2020), and Yemen – 13 (33 in 2020).
New This Week – DR Congo – 2 cVDPV2 Case, Madagascar – 2 cVDPV2 Case + 6 Samples, Malawi – 1 WPV1 Case, Nigeria – 3 cVDPV2 Cases + 8 cVDPV2 Samples, Yemen 3 cDVPV2 Cases.
A total of 1,110 Vaccine Derived Polio cases were reported in 26 countries in 2020.
Quote of the Day
“The Rotary Foundation is far too great to keep to ourselves. Let’s make sure to let the Foundation’s light shine bright. In doing so, we will find new partners, gain new supporters, and increase the good we’re all doing in the world.”
— JOHN F. GERM, ROTARY FOUNDATION TRUSTEE CHAIR
The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:
Pakistan
0 new Polio cases were reported this week.
0 Wild Polio cases – 2022 (1 Wild Polio case, 2021). The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 1/27/21.
84 Wild Polio cases – 2020. No WPV1 or cVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Pakistan.
Afghanistan
0 new Polio cases reported this week.
1 Wild Polio case – 2022, (4 Wild Polio cases, 2021). The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 1/11/22.
56 Wild Polio cases – 2020. No WPV1 & CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Sample were reported this week in Afghanistan.
Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication!!
Terry Ziegler, Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser Rotary Region 36
