POLIO [to 8 November 2014]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

GPEI Update: Polio this week – As of 22 October 2014
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Editor’s Excerpt and text bolding
Full report: http://www.polioeradication.org/Dataandmonitoring/Poliothisweek.aspx
:: Two new cases of circulating vaccine derived polio virus (cVDPV) have been reported in South Sudan, constituting an outbreak. Immunization activities are planned in November and December in order to stop the spread of cVDPV.
:: Immunization campaigns in Iraq in September reached 88% of children under 5. Around 20 million children were vaccinated across the Middle East in October. These activities are helping to protect the gains made against the virus in the region, with no case reported for nearly 7 months.
:: In central Africa, it has been 6 months since the latest case of polio in Equatorial Guinea. In Cameroon, high level delegates from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention met with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health in order to discuss the urgency of the outbreak response
Afghanistan
:: Six new wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases were reported in the past week in Afghanistan. Of these, 4 are from Kandahar province (2 in Kandahar district, and 1 in each of the previously uninfected districts of Shahwalikot and Arghandab); 1 is from the Bermel district of Paktika province, and 1 from the previously uninfected province of Ghazni, in Giro district. The most recent case had onset of paralysis on 4 October in Arghandab district, Kandahar province. The total number of WPV1 cases is now 18.
:: Given the growing outbreak in neighbouring Pakistan, Afghanistan is taking protective steps to limit any spread of the virus. Subnational Immunization Days (SNIDs) are scheduled across the south and east of Afghanistan 16-18 November using bivalent oral polio vaccine (OPV).
Nigeria
:: One new type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) case was reported in the past week in Bindawa district of Katsina province. The total number of cVDPV2 cases for 2014 is now 21. This cVDPV2 case had onset of paralysis on 12 September.
Pakistan
:: Fifteen new wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases were reported in the past week in Pakistan. Of these, 8 are from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) (1 from South Waziristan, 1 from Frontier Region Bannu and 6 from Khyber Agency); 3 from Balochistan province (2 from Killa Abdullah district and 1 from Quetta); and 4 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province (3 from Peshawar district and 1 from Charsada district, previously uninfected in 2014). The most recent case had onset of paralysis on 20 October in South Waziristan. This brings the total number of WPV1 cases in 2014 to 235 compared to 56 in 2013 by this date.
:: Immunization activities are continuing with particular focus on known high-risk areas, in particular the newly opened areas of FATA. At exit and entry points of areas that are inaccessible during polio campaigns, 163 permanent vaccination points are being used to reach internally displaced families as they move in and out of the inaccessible area. Over 700,000 people have been vaccinated in the past few months at transit points and in host communities, including half a million children.
Horn of Africa
:: Two new cases of circulating vaccine derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) have been reported in South Sudan this week. Both are from Rubkona district of Unity province. The most recent onset of paralysis was on the 12 September.
West Africa
:: Even as polio programme staff across West Africa support efforts to control the Ebola outbreak affecting the region, efforts are being made in those countries not affected by Ebola to vaccinate children against polio. National Immunization Days (NIDs) are planned in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Mauritania, Senegal and Togo starting 31 October and in Guinea Bissau starting on 8 November. Subnational Immunization Days (SNIDs) will also take place starting 31 October in Niger and Mali.