Nigeria records eight new polio cases

NIGERIA has continued to transmit the Wild Polio Virus (WPV) with eight new cases recorded last week bringing the total number for 2012 to 70.According to the latest edition of Weekly Polio Update published by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), 'eight new cases were reported in the past week, seven type one polio virus (WPV1s) from Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina and a type three (WPV3) from Taraba, bringing the total number of cases for 2012 to 70. The most recent was the newly reported case from Kaduna with onset of paralysis on July 23.'An immediate response to the WPV3 case in Taraba has been planned in the affected ward and will possibly include neighbouring wards. A state-wide mop-up campaign will be completed within four weeks.'The planned review of micro-planning activities in Yobe and Borno was postponed because of security issues in those states. An assessment of the impact of security situations on polio activities is ongoing. Last week, the investigator visited Kano, Yobe and Borno.'Recruitment of local government agency (LGA) consultants is ongoing and expected to be completed in early September.'The draft Immunisation Plus Days (IPD) guidelines are being extensively revised to incorporate lessons learned from the IPDs in July. The updated guidelines are expected to be ready for trainings in September.'The two other polio endemic countries - Afghanistan and Pakistan - have continued to transmit the virus with one case each reported in the past week. According to the GPEI, 'one new case was reported in the past week in Afghanistan, WPV1 from Hilmand, bringing the total number of cases for 2012 to 17. The most recent case in the country was WPV1 from Kunar with onset of paralysis on July 21.In Pakistan, one new case was reported in the past week, WPV1 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the total number of cases for 2012 to 29. The most recent was a previously reported WPV1 case from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with onset of paralysis on July 21.
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