POLIO [to 1 August 2015]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

GPEI Update: Polio this week – As of 29 July 2015
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
[Editor’s Excerpt and text bolding]
Full report: http://www.polioeradication.org/Dataandmonitoring/Poliothisweek.aspx
:: 24 July marked one year since a child was last paralyzed by wild poliovirus in Nigeria. Final laboratory results on all specimens for the full 12 month period are expected by September 2015, which, if clear for poliovirus, may lead to Nigeria being removed from the list of polio-endemic countries. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative commends the hard work of the Nigerian government, partners, religious and community leaders, and health workers for such strong progress towards stopping polio. Yet the job is not yet finished, and it is crucial that commitment from all stakeholders is maintained. Read more
:: Despite the deteriorating security situation in Yemen, a humanitarian pause enabled 50,000 children to be reached with the oral polio vaccine during the final week of Ramadan. Read more

Selected excerpts from Country-specific Reports
Afghanistan
:: One new wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case was reported in the past week in Shindand district of Hirat province, with onset of paralysis on 27 June. This is the most recent case reported in Afghanistan. The total number of WPV1 cases for 2015 is now six. .
:: Intensive and strengthened supplementary immunization activities are planned in the coming months. National Immunization Days (NIDs) are scheduled on 16 – 18 August using bivalent oral polio vaccine (OPV). Subnational Immunization Days (SNIDs) will follow across the south of the country on 20 – 22 September, and NIDs using trivalent OPV will take place on 18 – 20 October.