Cameroon reports first polio case since 2009, up to 22 suspected cases in Syria
Today is World Polio Day 2013 and as the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) said, “in 2013, there are reasons both for celebration and concern.”
They note that wild poliovirus (WPV) cases in Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan – the last three endemic countries – are down 40% compared to this time last year.
However, at the same time, there is the Horn of Africa outbreak and the suspected Syria outbreak, which reminds us that there is no time for complacency.
In addition, the west central Africa nation of Cameroon has reported its first WPV case since 2009 in Ouest province.
The GPEI said an outbreak response is now being planned. In 2013, five large-scale supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) have already been conducted in Cameroon (in April, May, August, September and October), as the country was considered at high-risk of re-infection due to its proximity with Nigeria. The latest National immunization days (NIDs) were conducted 11-13 October.
In Syria, Reuters reports that at least 22 people are suspected of having polio. Most of those stricken with acute flaccid paralysis, a symptom of diseases including polio, in Deir al-Zor province are children under the age of two.
More than 100,000 children under the age of five are deemed at risk of polio in the eastern province. Syria has not seen polio since 1999.
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[…] October 2013, Cameroon reported it’s first polio case since 2009. Four cases were reported last […]
[…] African nation of Cameroon is reporting its second case of WPV 1 this week. This follows a confirmed case reported in mid-October. Prior to October, the last case of polio reported from the country was in […]
Dexter, only fools like you can make such comments. When you have nothing to say on such an important issue, you better stay quiet. We are not talking politics here but health, away with your frustrations.
[…] the confirmation testing pending on some 22 “suspected” cases of polio in war-torn Syria, UNICEF has joined the World Health Organisation and other partners in mounting a large-scale […]
[…] Cameroon reports first polio case since 2009, up to 22 suspected cases in Syria […]