POLIO [to 13 June 2015]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

GPEI Update: Polio this week – As of 10 June 2015
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
[Editor’s Excerpt and text bolding]
Full report: http://www.polioeradication.org/Dataandmonitoring/Poliothisweek.aspx
:: This week, the “Written Declaration on EU Support and Funding for Polio Eradication” was signed by a majority of the members of the European Parliament. In total, 380 European Parliamentarians signed the Written Declaration, which calls for continued commitment to polio eradication by the European Commission. More [see below]
:: Expert groups in polio-infected areas are actively evaluating progress. Last week, the Technical Advisory Group for Afghanistan and Pakistan met to review latest epidemiology, while this week an international outbreak assessment is evaluating the situation in the Horn of Africa. Similar expert bodies will convene in other infected areas/countries over the coming months.

Selected excerpts from Country-specific Reports
Afghanistan
:: One new wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case was reported in the past week, from Farah province, with onset of paralysis on 23 April. The total number of WPV1 cases for 2015 is three. This most recent case is from the same district of Farah (Gulestan district) as the last previous reported case (with onset of paralysis on 5 May).
:: While the bulk of cases in Afghanistan are linked with cross-border transmission with Pakistan, low-level endemic transmission persists in some areas. Focus must be on interrupting both this transmission and to prevent secondary spread as a result of cross-border transmission (i.e. local transmission).
:: The Technical Advisory Group last week identified that southern and eastern Afghanistan remain at particular risk to polio. The group identified reasons for missed children, which to a great extent are due to remaining operational challenges during campaign implementation. The meeting put forward key recommendations to urgently address these remaining gaps.
:: 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 August.
Pakistan
:: Two new environmental sample positive for WPV1 were reported this week, one from greater Karachi, Sindh, and the other from Jacobabad, Sindh, with collection dates on 11 and 5 May, respectively.
Horn of Africa
:: An international outbreak assessment is underway this week in the Horn of Africa, to examine the impact of the regional emergency outbreak response activities. The assessment will build on recommendations from the February Horn of Africa Technical Advisory Group, including the need to put in place additional and new measures to strengthen subnational surveillance sensitivity in key areas (notably south-central Somalia and Somali region, Ethiopia).

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WRITTEN DECLARATION submitted under Rule 136 of the Rules of Procedure on continued European Union support for polio eradication
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 9.3.2015 0008/2015 DC\1051044EN.doc PE550.890v01-00
1. The world is on the brink of one of its greatest public health achievements – the
eradication of poliomyelitis.
2. Childhood immunisation is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions available. Global polio eradication efforts have already generated net benefits of USD 27 billion and could save up to USD 50 billion in direct and indirect healthcare costs by 2035, not to mention the immeasurable alleviation of human suffering. Assets and infrastructures built to support the eradication effort are also currently being used in the response to the Ebola crisis.
3. Eradicating the last 1 % of polio cases is difficult and costly, yet achievable by 2018 thanks to global efforts. As proven by recent outbreaks, no country – including the EU Member States – will be safe until all countries are free of polio.
4. The Commission is therefore called upon to make a continued commitment to supporting
polio eradication as a priority in its future development actions, and to allocate appropriate levels of funding to polio vaccination campaigns and surveillance over the next four years.
5. This declaration, together with the names of the signatories, is forwarded to the Council and the Commission.