Update: Polio this week – As of 29 January 2014
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Full report: http://www.polioeradication.org/Dataandmonitoring/Poliothisweek.aspx
[Editor’s extract and bolded text]
:: In the Syrian Arab Republic, seven new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 were reported in the past week. The reporting of new cases is a sign that surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis is improving in the country, as expected in an outbreak. The response continues country-wide and across the entire Middle East region, to reach more than 22 million children under the age of five years with oral polio vaccine (OPV).

Afghanistan
:: Two new wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases were reported in the past week, bringing the total WPV1 cases for 2013 to 14, and one case reported in 2014 to date, with onset of paralysis on 14 January. The first 2014 case was reported from Alingar, Laghman province, Eastern Region.

Pakistan
:: Two new WPV1 cases were reported in the past week, one from Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with onset of paralysis on 31 December 2013 and one from North Waziristan, FATA with onset of paralysis on 4 January 2014. The total number of WPV1 cases for Pakistan in 2013 is now 92. The total number for WPV1 cases for Pakistan in 2014 is now 5. The most recent WPV1 case had onset of paralysis on 5 January (from North Waziristan, FATA).
:: Two new cVDPV2 cases were reported in the past week, both from North Waziristan. The total number of cVDPV2 cases is now 45 for 2013 and one for 2014. The most recent cVDPV2 case had onset of paralysis on 3 January (from North Waziristan).

Horn of Africa
:: In Somalia, one new WPV1 cases were reported in the past week. Onset of paralysis was in June 2013. This case was reported late due to a laboratory processing backlog.

Middle East
:: In Syria, seven new WPV1 cases were reported in the past week. The total number of WPV1 cases is now 23. The cases were reported from Aleppo, Deir-Al-Zour, Edleb and Hasakeh governorates, all with onset of paralysis in November and December 2013. The most recent case had onset of paralysis on 17 December and was reported from Mara, Edleb governorate. Before the outbreak wild poliovirus was last reported in Syria in 1999.

:: In the Middle East, a comprehensive outbreak response continues to be implemented across the region. A third large-scale supplementary immunization activity commenced on 5 January. Initial reporting indicates that over 2 million children were reached during this third SIA.

WHO and UNICEF are committed to working with all organizations and agencies providing humanitarian assistance to Syrians affected by the conflict. This includes vaccinating all Syrian children no matter where they are, whether in government or contested areas, or outside Syria.

:: The WHO/UNICEF Strategic Plan for Polio Outbreak Response in the Middle East outlines the action plan for Syria and neighbouring countries in response to the circulation of wild poliovirus following importation. The objective is to stop the outbreak in Syria by the end of March 2014 and prevent any further international spread.