Update: Polio this week – As of 6 March 2013
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
http://www.polioeradication.org/Dataandmonitoring/Poliothisweek.aspx

[Editor’s Extract and bolded text]
– In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, all samples from 2012 AFP cases have now been fully cleared, and confirm that the country has not reported a WPV case in over one year (the last reported WPV case had onset of paralysis on 20 December 2011).

– Islamic scholars call for urgent action to complete polio eradication in Muslim communities: “Crippled children lead to a crippled Muslim Ummah” warned the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, at a meeting in Cairo this week of Muslim scholars from several countries. As Muslim communities and countries everywhere have eradicated polio, the scholars reaffirmed their resolve to support the people, health workers and governments of the three remaining countries – Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan. More at http://www.emro.who.int/media/news/polio-eradication-in-muslim-communities.html.

Nigeria
– One new WPV case was reported in the past week (WPV1 from Yobe), bringing in the total number of WPV cases for 2013 to 3. The total number of WPV cases for 2012 remains 122. The most recent WPV case had onset of paralysis on 31 January (from Yobe).

– No new cases of cVDPV2 were reported in the past week. The total number of cVDPV2 cases for 2012 remains eight. The most recent cVDPV2 case had onset of paralysis on 24 November 2012 (from Kebbi).

– Nationwide Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) were conducted using trivalent OPV on 2-5 March in 30 states, coordinated with activities in neighbouring Republic of Niger. IPDs have been postponed by one week in four southern states and the Federal Capital Territory because of the need for more time to adequately prepare for the round of immunization. IPDs have been postponed in Kano and Borno states due to security concerns. The security situation in the north remains fluid.

Pakistan
– The security situation continues to be monitored closely, in consultation with law enforcement agencies. Based on these security evaluations, immunization campaigns then proceed at local level as and when the situation allows. Immunization campaigns were conducted throughout February in key reservoir areas.