POLIO UPDATE
Do You Know the Top 5 Reasons to Eradicate Polio? #4 - It Strengthens The Health System! - The active disease surveillance system, built as a result of our Polio eradication effort, is being used worldwide to increase the quality of healthcare (particularly among children) through such methods as measles vaccinations, de-worming treatments, vitamin distribution, and mosquito net distribution. The "pluses" of PolioPlus will benefit many future generations.
WHO - Polio Public Health Emergency Measures - On May 5, 2014, the Director General of the WHO declared the international spread of Wild Poliovirus to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Countries which are currently exporting Wild Poliovirus (Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Pakistan, & Syria) are required to ensure all residents & visitors (of over 4 weeks) receive a dose of Polio Vaccine 4 to 12 weeks before leaving the country and to ensure that each international traveler receives proof of vaccination. In addition, the countries of Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iraq, Israel, Nigeria, & Somalia are also encouraged to make sure their residents & long term visitors are vaccinated before international travel.
The Final Three Endemic Countries
Pakistan - 99 Polio cases have been reported in 2014 with the most recent on 6/28/14 in South Waziristan. Pakistan National Immunization Days have been announced for 9/29-10/1/14 and 12/8-12/10/14 and Sub-National Immunization Days for 8/18-8/20/14, 9/1-9/3/14, 10/13-10/15/14, 11/10-11/12/14, & 12/22-12/24/14. With many moving out of North Waziristan due to recent military activity against insurgents, over 800,000 children from those areas have been vaccinated recently.
Afghanistan - 8 Polio cases reported in 2014 with the most recent on 06/16/14 from the Khost Province. Over 35,000 children of recently displaced families have recently been vaccinated. 14 cases recorded in 2013. National Immunization Days are planned for August 18-20.
Nigeria - 5 Polio cases reported in 2014 - the most recent on 05/27/14 in Kano state. 53 cases recorded in 2013. Sub-National Immunization + Days are scheduled for Northern Nigeria again in August.
Importation Countries:
Syria - 1 Polio case reported in 2014 - 35 cases recorded in 2013.
Somalia - 4 Polio cases reported in 2014 - 194 cases recorded in 2013.
Kenya - Zero Polio cases reported in 2014 - 14 cases recorded in 2013.
Ethiopia - 1 Polio cases reported in 2014 - 9 Cases recorded in 2013.
Cameroon - 3 Polio cases reported in 2014 (most recent on 1/25/14) - 4 Cases reported in 2013.
Equatorial Guinea - 5 Polio cases reported (most recent on 5/28/14). Zero cases reported in 2013.
Iraq - 2 Polio cases reported on 4/07/14 in Baghdad - 0 cases reported in 2013.
Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication! Terry Ziegler, District 5890 Rotary Foundation Committee Chair,
Pakistan - 99 Polio cases have been reported in 2014 with the most recent on 6/28/14 in South Waziristan. Pakistan National Immunization Days have been announced for 9/29-10/1/14 and 12/8-12/10/14 and Sub-National Immunization Days for 8/18-8/20/14, 9/1-9/3/14, 10/13-10/15/14, 11/10-11/12/14, & 12/22-12/24/14. With many moving out of North Waziristan due to recent military activity against insurgents, over 800,000 children from those areas have been vaccinated recently.
Afghanistan - 8 Polio cases reported in 2014 with the most recent on 06/16/14 from the Khost Province. Over 35,000 children of recently displaced families have recently been vaccinated. 14 cases recorded in 2013. National Immunization Days are planned for August 18-20.
Nigeria - 5 Polio cases reported in 2014 - the most recent on 05/27/14 in Kano state. 53 cases recorded in 2013. Sub-National Immunization + Days are scheduled for Northern Nigeria again in August.
Importation Countries:
Syria - 1 Polio case reported in 2014 - 35 cases recorded in 2013.
Somalia - 4 Polio cases reported in 2014 - 194 cases recorded in 2013.
Kenya - Zero Polio cases reported in 2014 - 14 cases recorded in 2013.
Ethiopia - 1 Polio cases reported in 2014 - 9 Cases recorded in 2013.
Cameroon - 3 Polio cases reported in 2014 (most recent on 1/25/14) - 4 Cases reported in 2013.
Equatorial Guinea - 5 Polio cases reported (most recent on 5/28/14). Zero cases reported in 2013.
Iraq - 2 Polio cases reported on 4/07/14 in Baghdad - 0 cases reported in 2013.
Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication! Terry Ziegler, District 5890 Rotary Foundation Committee Chair,
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