A circulating Vaccine-Derived Polio outbreak in Syria has paralyzed 17. Efforts are underway to insure the security of vaccinators ready to immunize 400,000 children in the outbreak area. While not considered as serious as wild Polio outbreaks, vaccine-derived cases indicate low immunity levels and poor sanitation.Team Rotary Bicycle Race Across America raced from Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, MD this month in an effort to raise money and awareness of Polio eradication. Last year the team raised $300,000, which was matched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
With PolioPlus, Polio eradication donations can be made quickly, easily, and securely on any device. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged to match up to $50 Million of Rotarian raised donations 2 to 1 for the next three years, so our Goal is set.
The Final Three Endemic Countries:
Pakistan: No new Polio cases reported this week. Two cases reported in 2017, the most recent from the Diamir district, Gilgit Baltistan province with an onset on 2/13/17. 20 Polio cases were reported in 2016. No new WPV1 positive environmental samples were reported in the past week.
Afghanistan: No new Polio cases reported this week. Four cases reported in 2017 - the most recent in the Nawzad district, Hilmand with the onset of paralysis on 4/16/17. 13 Polio cases were reported in 2016. No new Polio-positive environmental samples were collected this week in Afghanistan.
Nigeria: No new Polio cases reported this week. Four Polio cases reported in 2016 - with no cases reported in 2015. The most recent case was reported on 8/2016 in Borno State.