A look at the global polio situation: Horn of Africa outbreak, the three remaining endemic countries
As of this writing, there has been 296 polio cases reported globally–99 cases from the three remaining endemic countries and 197 from the current Horn of Africa outbreak.
Image/Rotary International
To discuss these and other polio issues, I was joined by Dr. Carol Pandak, Director, PolioPlus with Rotary International, on the Saturday, Oct. 19 airing of Outbreak News This Week, where she shed some light on the global polio situation.
Dr. Pandak explained what polio is and what conditions are conducive to the virus.
She went on to give details on the Horn of Africa polio outbreak, to include saying the virus was spread from Nigeria, one of the endemic countries.
Pandak was optimistic about the success of the mass vaccination campaigns in the effected countries.
When asked about what country would be the “Next India”, that is, taken off the polio endemic list, Pandak suggested Afghanistan saying the country has no indigenous polio, all the cases coming from neighboring Pakistan.
Dr. Pandak also noted that the Israel/Gaza situation, where polio has been found in sewage samples, have done a a good job in vaccinating their populations and doesn’t expect that situation to get worse.
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[…] endemic countries, reported only 11 cases in 2013, down from 37 in 2012. However, more importantly, the country reported no indigenous cases of wild poliovirus all year – all cases are linked to cross-border transmission with […]