Message from Glenn

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

 

               Over the last few weeks, I experienced two events that reminded me how important it is to keep funding the eradication of Wild Polio.  The first occasion was a visit I had with a friend I’ve known since High School (I dated both of her daughters and her son is my legal counsel) .  My friend will soon be 95 years old and during my visit we talked about living through the outbreak of Wild Polio during her childhood.  She told me of her memories about the pools, playgrounds and later the movie theaters being all shut down due to the spread of Wild Polio.   

 

The next event was the Salute, Inc. 20^th year celebration.  Salute, Inc. is an organization that helps military families at multiple stages of their service careers.  The event featured several individuals that have benefited from donations to Salute, Inc.  It is very powerful to hear first-hand how an organization comes beside someone in need and changes their lives.  If you have someone in your Rotary Club that has been on an immunization trip, please ask them if they would give a presentation of their experience.  Hearing from those who have seen the faces of mothers getting their children immunized may inspire one of you to “get in the game” and join the “Polio Plus Society”.

 

               Below is this weeks Polio report.  Thank you in advance for your continued support of the eradication of Wild Polio.

 

 

 

What is that Polio Picture? Confidence in surveillance essential for certifying a polio-free world - Latest recommendations from independent global certification body - The Global Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication (GCC) met recently in Amman, Jordan, to review progress towards interrupting wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) transmission in polio-endemic Pakistan and Afghanistan, implementation of the Global Surveillance Action Plan, and to hear from the six regional certification commissions on current regional priorities and issues.

 

“It will be the quality of poliovirus surveillance that will allow the GCC to certify the eradication of WPV1 with the highest possible level of confidence,” said Professor David Salisbury, GCC Chair. 

 

Support water, sanitation, and hygiene efforts on World Water Day (March 22)

2023 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Case Total - 13,  Benin - 1, Chad - 2, Indonesia - 2, Israel - 1, Madagascar - 5, Nigeria - 1, Somalia - 1.

 

2022 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Case Total - 826  Afghanistan - 43, Algeria - 3, Benin - 11 (3 in 2021), Burundi - 1, Cameroon - 3 (3 in 2021), Central African Republic - 5, Chad -44 (0 in 2021), DR Congo - 433 (28 in 2021), Republic of Congo - 1, Eritrea - 1, Ethiopia - 1, Ghana - 3, Indonesia - 1, Israel - 1, Madagascar - 14 (13 in 2021), Malawi - 4, Mali - 2, Mozambique - 21 (2 in 2021), Niger - 15 (18 in 2021), Nigeria - 48 (415 in 2021), Pakistan - 8, Somalia - 5 (1 in 2021), Sudan - 1, Togo - 2, United States - 1, Yemen - 162 (69 in 2021) .

 

New Polio Cases & Samples reported in the last week - Benin - 1 (2023) cVDPV2 Case, Burundi - 1 cVDPV2 Case + 5 Samples, Chad - 2 (2023) cVDPV2 Cases, DR Congo - 6 cVDPV2 Cases, Niger - 1 cVDPV2 Case, Pakistan - 1 WPV1 Sample.

 

Quote of the Day -  "Everybody is a genius.  But if you judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid.  Albert Einstein

The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:

Pakistan No new Wild Polio cases reported this week. Twenty Wild Polio cases reported in 2022. One Wild Polio Case reported in 2021.  The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 9/15/22.  Pakistan reported 83 Wild Polio cases in 2020.  One WPV1 Sample and no cVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Pakistan. 

 

Afghanistan No new Wild Polio cases reported this week.  Two Wild Polio Cases reported in 2022 . Four Wild Polio cases reported in 2021  The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 8/29/22. Afghanistan reported 56 Wild Polio cases in 2020. No WPV1 Samples and no cVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.