POLIO [to 6 June 2015]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

GPEI Update: Polio this week – As of 3 June 2015
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
[Editor’s Excerpt and text bolding]
Full report: http://www.polioeradication.org/Dataandmonitoring/Poliothisweek.aspx
:: This week, the Technical Advisory Groups of Afghanistan and Pakistan are meeting to evaluate progress on polio eradication efforts in recent months and to plan for the upcoming polio high transmission season.
:: As the poliovirus is more and more geographically limited, surveillance becomes increasingly important for ensuring that it cannot spread unchecked. Read more about polio surveillance and laboratories.
:: Polio staff continue to offer support to the humanitarian response to the devastating earth quakes in Nepal. Read more.

Selected excerpts from Country-specific Reports
Afghanistan
:: Environmental sampling in the country continues to find wild poliovirus (most recently in Hilmand). Such sampling is invaluable to improved surveillance for the virus.
:: Subnational Immunization Days (SNIDs) are planned from 14 – 16 June across the south and east using bivalent OPV. National Immunization Days are scheduled on 16 to 18 Augus
Pakistan
:: One new case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) was reported this week in North Waziristan district in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. This most recent case had onset of paralysis on 6 May. The total number of WPV1 cases for 2015 is now 24 (and remains 306 for 2014).
:: One new environmental sample positive for WPV1 was reported this week from Peshawar district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
:: Environmental surveillance indicates widespread circulation of polioviruses – WPV as well as VDPV – not just in known infected areas but also in areas without cases. Environmental surveillance is proving to be an instrumental supplemental surveillance tool enabling a clearer epidemiological picture.
:: Currently, the focus of the polio eradication programme in Pakistan is on known infected areas and on areas deemed to be high-risk but which have not reported polio cases.