End Polio - we were at Zero for 2024 - now we are at 2 cases

After 4 months without a case of wild polio virus reported in the world, I’m sorry to advise that two cases were reported in Pakistan in February.
 
The two Wild Poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases were reported from Dera Bugti and Chaman districts of Balochistan, Pakistan. The cases had onset of paralysis on 22 February 2024 and 29 February 2024.  Outbreak response to the detected cases and recent environmental detections from other districts are ongoing with a polio vaccination campaign taking place from 25-28 March in polio-affected districts.  Surveillance efforts in the endemic areas where no cases have been reported since September 2023, continue to be intensified, particularly as the country is currently in the ‘low transmission season’ for poliovirus.
 
Here is a summary of WHO figures for Wild Polio Virus:
 
  • The number of wild polio cases for 2024 as of Mar. 20, 2024 is 2. There were 2 in Pakistan. 
 
  • The total number of wild polio cases for 2023 were 12. There were 6 in Pakistan and 6 in Afghanistan.  
  • The total number of wild polio cases in 2022 were 30. There were 2 in Afghanistan, 20 in Pakistan, and 8 in Mozambique. 
  • The total number of wild polio cases in 2021 were 6. There was 1 in Pakistan, 1 in Malawi, and 4 in Afghanistan. 
  • The total number of wild polio cases in 2020 were 140. There were 84 in Pakistan and 56 in Afghanistan.
Summary of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) cases
       •      Total global cVDPV cases in 2023: 520 
       •      Total global cVDPV cases in 2024: 8 (compared with 14 for the same period in 2023). They were:  Guinea - 1, Mali - 1, Nigeria  4, Somalia - 1, Yemen - 2
 
These new cases reinforce the need for Rotarians and others to continue the fight to eradicate polio from the globe. Some suggested ways to do this are in the attached graphic.
 
To reach Rotary’s annual $50 million goal, it is important that we have every club and every district  in the zone contributing to Rotary’s number one humanitarian priority. Has your district committed DDF yet?
 
Murray Verso
Zone 8 End Polio Now Coordinator  2022-2025
Rotary Club of Williamstown    
Mobile: +61 417 595 217
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