Update: Polio this week – As of 6 November 2013
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Full report: http://www.polioeradication.org/Dataandmonitoring/Poliothisweek.aspx
[Editor’s extract and bolded text]

:: Following confirmation of polio in Syria, health ministers of the Eastern Mediterranean declared the circulation of poliovirus in the Region an ‘emergency’ for all Member States at its Regional Committee meeting in Oman last week. It called on Pakistan to take necessary steps to ensure all children were accessed and vaccinated as a matter of utmost emergency to prevent further international spread and requested Syria and adjoining countries to coordinate intensified mass vaccination campaigns using the most appropriate tactics and vaccines to interrupt this new outbreak within six months. For more on the Regional Committee meeting click here.

:: The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE) is meeting this week in Geneva, Switzerland. Among other topics, the SAGE is expected to review the latest global polio epidemiology, strategies for accelerating polio eradication and plans for introduction of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) into routine immunization.

Afghanistan
One new WPV1 case was reported in the past week (from Chapa Dara district, Kunar province). The total number of WPV cases for 2013 is now nine (all WPV1), all of which were reported from Eastern Region, close to the Pakistan border. The most recent WPV1 case had onset of paralysis on 27 September, from Kunar province.

Nigeria
Two new WPV cases were reported this week. The total number of WPV cases for 2013 is now 51 (all WPV1s). The two cases were reported from Local Government Areas (LGA) Nasarawa and Kumbotso in Kano state. The most recent WPV1 case in the country had onset of paralysis on 8 October (from Kumbotso, Kano).