Syria reports first polio case of 2014
The polio outbreak in the Middle East continues with two new cases of wild poliovirus-1 (WPV-1) reported, one from late 2013 and the first case of 2014, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) today.
Image/CIA
A case from Deir Hafer, Aleppo province with an onset of paralysis on 28 December 2013 was reported making it the 26th case of 2013 in Syria.
In addition, the first confirmed case in 2014 from Salamayeh, Hama province with onset of paralysis on 21 January was reported.
According to the GPEI, the total number of WPV1 cases reported from Syria since the outbreak was detected is 39: 27 cases reported by the Ministry of Health, and 12 cases from contested areas (Aleppo, Edleb and Deir Al Zour) not yet reflected in official figures.
Elsewhere, three new WPV1 cases were reported this week from North Waziristan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas – FATA, North-West Pakistan, bringing the total number of cases for 2014 to 39.
The other remaining polio endemic countries of Afghanistan and Nigeria did not report any news cases during the past week.
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