POLIO [to 23 August 2014]

GPEI Update: Polio this week – As of 20 August 2014
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Editor’s Excerpt and text bolding
Full report: http://www.polioeradication.org/Dataandmonitoring/Poliothisweek.aspx
:: The Horn of Africa Technical Advisory Group (TAG) met last week to review the current epidemiological situation, the impact of outbreak response and to determine additional strategies needed to rapidly interrupt residual transmission in the region. Plans were developed to increase access to mobile populations, to improve community surveillance and to strengthen campaign quality. Read more in the Horn of Africa section below.
:: China, India and Australia have joined Saudi Arabia in requiring proof of polio vaccination for visa applications for travellers coming from polio endemic and outbreak countries to mitigate the risk of international spread of polio.
:: In Cameroon, genetic sequencing of the recently-reported cases confirms continued wild poliovirus circulation, gaps in surveillance resulting in undetected transmission and geographic expansion to new areas of the country. See ‘central Africa’ section below for further information.
Pakistan
:: Seven new WPV1 cases were reported in the past week, all from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), from North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Khyber, bringing the total number of WPV1 cases for 2014 to 115. One of the newly-reported cases from North Waziristan is the most recent WPV1 case in the country, with onset of paralysis on 27 July.
Horn of Africa
:: The Horn of Africa TAG met from 12-14 August to review the current epidemiological situation and the impact of the outbreak response and to determine additional strategies needed to rapidly interrupt residual transmission in the region.
:: Strategies were proposed to improve operations and strengthen surveillance including targeted tactics for reaching mobile populations in Somalia and Ethiopia, considering new communication channels and opportunities to reach these groups. The need to sustain the sense of urgency until the outbreak is stopped was highlighted
Middle East
:: In the Middle East, the second phase of the comprehensive outbreak response is being implemented across the region.
:: WHO and UNICEF are committed to working with all organizations and agencies providing humanitarian assistance to Syrians affected by the conflict. This includes vaccination of all children no matter where they are, whether in government or contested areas of the country, or outside Syria.
:: SNIDs will start on 31 August in high-risk governorates of Syria where over the past several SIAs coverage has been lower than in other areas. Technical support is being maximized to these areas.
:: On 6-7 September, there will be a review of the Phase 2 outbreak response in the Middle East so far.
West Africa
:: Polio staff across West Africa are supporting efforts to control the Ebola outbreak affecting the region. The Ebola outbreak will impact the planned multi-country polio campaigns in September in the Ebola affected countries with campaigns in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea being postponed until the Ebola outbreak is brought under control. Preparations for large scale multi-country campaigns in countries across the rest of West Africa in mid-September are proceeding as planned.

UNICEF Watch [to 23 August 2014]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_71724.html
Mass Polio Vaccination Campaign Supported by WHO and UNICEF Kicks Off in Iraq
ERBIL/AMMMAN, 11 August 2014 – Iraq has launched a polio immunization campaign aiming to protect over four million children under the age of 5 throughout the country against the crippling disease.