POLIO UPDATE

Posted by Terry Ziegler, District 5890 on Jan 29, 2017
 
Three weeks and counting - No New Polio cases reported this week.  But keep in mind that it often takes a couple of weeks to confirm a new case with lab tests.
     
What is that Polio Eradication Picture?    Leaping into action - The detection of polio in Nigeria was a serious setback for the polio eradication program. With no cases detected in Nigeria or any other African country for two years, there was hope that Africa was polio-free. But, the outbreak response was swift and comprehensive, with Rotary, the Governments of Borno and Nigeria, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF conducting an immediate emergency vaccination response.                
 
Polio Eradication Fundraising - A continuing column featuring a weekly Polio Eradication Fundraising Idea.  
The #27 Polio Fundraising Idea is - Even Small Amounts Count - Change collected weekly or monthly at your Club and District meetings can add up.  Keep track of the amount collected and make a big deal of counting, announcing the total, reporting it in your local press, and sending it in to The Rotary Foundation each couple of months.  It adds up!           
      
 
The Final Three Endemic Countries:
Pakistan - No new Polio cases reported this week.  Twenty Polio cases reported in 2016 with 54 cases recorded in 2015  The most recent case, with the onset of paralysis on 12/22/16 was from the Killa Abdullah, Balochistan area.  One new Polio-positive environmental sample was collected from the Killa Abdullah, Balochistan area on 1/1/17.  A total of 50 environmental samples were tested positive for Polio Virus in Pakistan in 2016.   
  
Afghanistan - No new Polio cases reported this week.  Thirteen Polio cases reported in 2016 with 20 cases recorded in 2015. The most recent cases, with an onset of paralysis on 12/16/16 was from the Bermal district, Paktika Province - near the Pakistan border. One new Polio-positive environmental sample was collected in the Hilmand Province on 12/23/16.    
 
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 on Borno State.