Extraordinary cooperation to detect Poliovirus in Sudan

Extraordinary cooperation to detect Poliovirus in Sudan

No new Wild Polio cases reported this week.  We are now 6 weeks since the most recent reported Wild Polio Case – on 6/10/23 in Afghanistan. 

What is that Polio Picture? It takes extraordinary cooperation to detect Poliovirus in conflict areas like Sudan.

Much like a relay race, in AFP surveillance, speed and coordination are key. Once health teams find a child with AFP, the race begins. But emergencies often present additional hurdles. In one of the localities in Sudan’s White Nile state, Ahmed Masaood, a health worker, was tasked with collecting two stool samples from a child presenting with AFP. However, when the roads outside turned unsafe during Ahmed’s visit, he ended up having to seek refuge with the family he was visiting for two nights.

As soon as he could, he rushed to the state cold room with his stool carrier to drop off the samples for storage until they could be tested.

The next lap of the race involves getting children’s stool samples to a WHO-accredited laboratory for testing. Due to the conflict, Sudan’s polio laboratory is not functioning, which meant the polio programme urgently needed to look for another laboratory to test stool samples to determine if children presenting with AFP had indeed been infected with poliovirus.

In a remarkable partnership, Sudan’s polio program teamed up with Egypt’s health authorities to use the VACSERA laboratory in Giza for this crucial task. Senior decision makers at the Egyptian Ministry of Health not only approved the collaboration but instructed for it to begin as soon as possible.

A Win Against Polio is a Win for Global Health!

2023 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 186 Benin – 3, Burkina Faso – 1, Central African Republic – 10, Chad – 15, Cote d’ Ivoire – 2, DR Congo – 107, Indonesia – 3, Israel – 1, Madagascar – 13, Mali – 3, Mozambique – 3, Nigeria – 19, Somalia – 2, Tanzania – 1, Zambia – 1.

New Polio Cases & Samples This Week –

  • Chad: five cVDPV2 cases
  • Congo: one cVDPV2 positive environmental sample
  • DR Congo: eight cVDPV1 cases, 16 cVDPV2 cases and two cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
  • Madagascar: eight cVDPV1 positive environmental samples
  • Somalia: three cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
  • Tanzania: one cVDPV2 case
  • Zambia: one cVDPV2 positive environmental sample

2022 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Case Total – 912 Afghanistan – 43, Algeria – 3, Benin – 11 (3 in 2021), Burundi – 1, Cameroon – 3 (3 in 2021), Central African Republic – 6, Chad -44 (0 in 2021), DR Congo – 507 (28 in 2021), Republic of Congo – 1, Eritrea – 1, Ethiopia – 1, Ghana – 3, Indonesia – 1, Israel – 1, Madagascar – 14 (13 in 2021), Malawi – 4, Mali – 2, Mozambique – 22 (2 in 2021), Niger – 16 (18 in 2021), Nigeria – 48 (415 in 2021), Pakistan – 8, Somalia – 5 (1 in 2021), Sudan – 1, Togo – 2, United States – 1, Yemen – 162 (69 in 2021).

2021 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases -689 in 22 Countries.  

2020 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 1,113 in 26 countries in 2020.

Quote of the Day

“Let’s think BIG about our Polio fundraising this year. Begin planning your World Polio Day fundraiser now for October 24 if you haven’t already.”

— Barry Rassin, Rotary Foundation Chair 2023-24

The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:

Pakistan

 

 

as of 8/5/2023

0 new Polio cases reported this week. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 2/20/23.
0 WPV1 and 0 CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.
1 Wild Polio cases – 2023
20 Wild Polio cases – 2022
1 Wild Polio case – 2021
84 Wild Polio cases – 2020

Afghanistan

 

 

as of 8/5/2023

0 new Polio cases reported this week. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 6/10/23.
WPV1 and 0 CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.
5 Wild Polio cases – 2023 (all from Nangarhar Province)
2 Wild Polio case – 2022
4 Wild Polio cases – 2021
56 Wild Polio cases – 2020

Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication!!

Terry Ziegler, Polio Update Newsletter Editor Rotary Region 36

Adam Gorish Hamid helps other families avoid Polio

Adam Gorish Hamid helps other families avoid Polio

No new Wild Polio cases reported this week.  We are now 11 weeks since the most recent reported Wild Polio Case – on 2/20/23 in Pakistan. 

What is that Polio Picture? Adam Gorish Hamid’s family was shattered when his nephew, Mostafa, contracted polio in December 2022. Mostafa was never vaccinated against polio, and now is left to live with its debilitating impacts. Today, his uncle Hamid has chosen to help other families avoid this tragedy and is leading the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases as an advocate in his nomadic community in Sudan.

Will you be near Washington DC on June 17, 2023? If so, consider joining local Rotarians for their END POLIO NOW Night at the Washington Nationals Baseball Game. For each ticket purchased, the Nationals will donate $5 to The Rotary Foundation’s PolioPlus effort! See the flier attached for ticket information.

Attending the Rotary Convention in Melbourne? Melbourne has beautiful parks, gardens, and walking trails — so join us Friday, 26 May, for a leisurely 2.5-kilometer (1.5-mile) End Polio Now Walk. We’ll go from Federation Square in the city centre along the magnificent St Kilda Road and past many of the city’s finest landmarks to the Rotary Melbourne Peace Park in the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. At the park, take time to find plaques commemorating Rotary leaders over the years, including Paul Harris.

You are also invited to the PolioPlus breakout session “Delivering on the Dream of a Polio-free World,” scheduled for May 31, from 9:00-10:00 AM. Come to this session, moderated by International PolioPlus Committee Chair Michael McGovern, to hear a global update on the status of polio eradication efforts from WHO Polio Eradication Director Aidan O’Leary and remarks from Past RI President John Germ, RI Director Jessie Harman, and Rotary Foundation Trustee and National PolioPlus Committee Chair in Pakistan Aziz Memon.

A Win Against Polio is a Win for Global Health!

2023 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 70 Benin – 2, Central African Republic – 5, Chad – 6, Cite d’ Ivoire – 1, DR Congo – 34, Indonesia – 3, Israel – 1, Madagascar – 9, Mozambique – 3, Nigeria – 4, Somalia – 2.

New Polio Cases & Samples This Week – Chad – 1  cVDPV2 Case, DR Congo – 6 cVDPV2 Cases, Madagascar – 17 cVDPV1 Samples, Nigeria 3 cVDPV2 Cases + 2 cVDPV2 Samples, Somalia – 1 cVDPV2 Case.

2022 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Case Total – 908 Afghanistan – 43, Algeria – 3, Benin – 11 (3 in 2021), Burundi – 1, Cameroon – 3 (3 in 2021), Central African Republic – 5, Chad -44 (0 in 2021), DR Congo – 506 (28 in 2021), Republic of Congo – 1, Eritrea – 1, Ethiopia – 1, Ghana – 3, Indonesia – 1, Israel – 1, Madagascar – 14 (13 in 2021), Malawi – 4, Mali – 2, Mozambique – 22 (2 in 2021), Niger – 15 (18 in 2021), Nigeria – 48 (415 in 2021), Pakistan – 8, Somalia – 5 (1 in 2021), Sudan – 1, Togo – 2, United States – 1, Yemen – 162 (69 in 2021).

2021 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases -689 in 22 Countries.  

2020 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 1,113 in 26 countries in 2020.

Quote of the Day

“The problem with quotes found on the internet is that they’re not always true.…read more

— Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), US 16th President 

The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:

Pakistan

 

 

as of 5/13/2023

0 new Polio cases reported this week. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 2/20/23.
2 WPV1 and 0 CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.
1 Wild Polio cases – 2023
20 Wild Polio cases – 2022
1 Wild Polio case – 2021
84 Wild Polio cases – 2020

Afghanistan

 

 

as of 5/13/2023

0 new Polio cases reported this week. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 8/29/22.
0 WPV1 and 0 CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.
0 Wild Polio cases – 2023
2 Wild Polio case – 2022
4 Wild Polio cases – 2021
56 Wild Polio cases – 2020

Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication!!

Terry Ziegler, Polio Update Newsletter Editor Rotary Region 36

A child in Sudan is vaccinated against Polio

A child in Sudan is vaccinated against Polio

No new Wild Polio cases reported this week.  We are now 10 weeks since the most recent reported Wild Polio Case – on 2/20/23 in Pakistan. 

What is that Polio Picture?  A child in Sudan is vaccinated against Polio.

WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET BACK ON TRACK AND REVERSE THIS DECLINE?

This World Immunization Week — which takes place every year at the end of April — WHO is launching “The Big Catch-Up.” This global push complements the work already happening in many countries to ramp up vaccination efforts. In essence, it aims to do exactly what it sounds like: catch kids up on the vaccines they missed during the pandemic. The Big Catch-Up also has a particular focus on reaching those kids who have never received a single dose of any vaccine. Because of the pandemic, there are 5 million more kids who are completely unprotected from dangerous, deadly diseases. To be most effective, The Big Catch-Up is focusing on those countries that saw the steepest declines during the past few years.

On top of this short-term goal, The Big Catch-Up is designed to help strengthen local health systems so that immunization is integrated into primary health care so we don’t see disruptions on the scale of what we saw with COVID-19 ever again. Lori Sloate, Senior Director for Global Health at the UN Foundation

Attending the Rotary Convention in Melbourne? Melbourne has beautiful parks, gardens, and walking trails — so join us Friday, 26 May, for a leisurely 2.5-kilometer (1.5-mile) End Polio Now Walk. We’ll go from Federation Square in the city centre along the magnificent St Kilda Road and past many of the city’s finest landmarks to the Rotary Melbourne Peace Park in the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. At the park, take time to find plaques commemorating Rotary leaders over the years, including Paul Harris.

You are also invited to the PolioPlus breakout session “Delivering on the Dream of a Polio-free World,” scheduled for May 31, from 9:00-10:00 AM. Come to this session, moderated by International PolioPlus Committee Chair Michael McGovern, to hear a global update on the status of polio eradication efforts from WHO Polio Eradication Director Aidan O’Leary and remarks from Past RI President John Germ, RI Director Jessie Harman, and Rotary Foundation Trustee and National PolioPlus Committee Chair in Pakistan Aziz Memon.

A Win Against Polio is a Win for Global Health!

2023 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 62 Benin – 2, Central African Republic – 5, Chad – 5, Cite d’ Ivoire – 1, DR Congo – 31, Indonesia – 3, Israel – 1, Madagascar – 9, Mozambique – 3, Nigeria – 1, Somalia – 1

New Polio Cases & Samples This Week – Cote d’ Ivoire – 1  cVDPV2 Case, Madagascar – 8 cVDPV1 Samples.

2022 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Case Total – 906 Afghanistan – 43, Algeria – 3, Benin – 11 (3 in 2021), Burundi – 1, Cameroon – 3 (3 in 2021), Central African Republic – 5, Chad -44 (0 in 2021), DR Congo – 504 (28 in 2021), Republic of Congo – 1, Eritrea – 1, Ethiopia – 1, Ghana – 3, Indonesia – 1, Israel – 1, Madagascar – 14 (13 in 2021), Malawi – 4, Mali – 2, Mozambique – 22 (2 in 2021), Niger – 15 (18 in 2021), Nigeria – 48 (415 in 2021), Pakistan – 8, Somalia – 5 (1 in 2021), Sudan – 1, Togo – 2, United States – 1, Yemen – 162 (69 in 2021).

2021 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases -689 in 22 Countries.  

2020 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 1,113 in 26 countries in 2020.

Quote of the Day

“Our deepest fear isn’t inadequacy. It’s that we’re powerful beyond measure.

— C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), Acclaimed British author 

The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:

Pakistan

 

 

as of 5/5/2023

0 new Polio cases reported this week. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 2/20/23.
0 WPV1 and 0 CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.
1 Wild Polio cases – 2023
20 Wild Polio cases – 2022
1 Wild Polio case – 2021
84 Wild Polio cases – 2020

Afghanistan

 

 

as of 5/5/2023

0 new Polio cases reported this week. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 8/29/22.
0 WPV1 and 0 CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.
0 Wild Polio cases – 2023
2 Wild Polio case – 2022
4 Wild Polio cases – 2021
56 Wild Polio cases – 2020

Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication!!

Terry Ziegler, Polio Update Newsletter Editor Rotary Region 36