Polio in the Syrian Arab Republic: 23 cases

[Giuseppe]

[Source: World Health Organization, full page: (LINK).]


Polio in the Syrian Arab Republic ? update

D.O.N. / 11 November 2013


Thirteen cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) have been confirmed in the Syrian Arab Republic.

Genetic sequencing indicates that the isolated viruses are most closely linked to virus detected in environmental samples in Egypt in December 2012 (which in turn had been linked to wild poliovirus circulating in Pakistan).

Closely related wild poliovirus strains have also been detected in environmental samples in Israel, West Bank and Gaza Strip since February 2013. Wild poliovirus had not been detected in the Syrian Arab Republic since 1999.

A comprehensive outbreak response continues to be implemented across the region.

On 24 October 2013, an already-planned large-scale supplementary immunization activity was launched in the Syrian Arab Republic to vaccinate 1.6 million children against polio, measles, mumps and rubella, in both government-controlled and contested areas.

Implementation of a supplementary immunization campaign in Deir Al Zour province commenced promptly when the first ?hot? acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases were reported.

Larger-scale outbreak response across the Syrian Arab Republic and neighbouring countries will continue for at least 6-8 months depending on the area and based on the evolving situation.

Given the current situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, frequent population movements across the region and the immunization level in key areas, the risk of further international spread of wild poliovirus type 1 across the region is considered to be high. A surveillance alert has been issued for the region to actively search for additional potential cases.

WHO?s International Travel and Health recommends that all travellers to and from polio-infected areas be fully vaccinated against polio.


-
-------

[Shiloh]

Re: Polio in the Syrian Arab Republic ? update (WHO, November 11 2013): 13 cases of WPV1

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/n...irmed-week-who


Thomson ReutersNovember 25, 2013 11:47
More polio cases in Syria to be confirmed this week: WHO

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The World Health Organization is likely to announce more cases of polio in war-ravaged Syria this week, a spokeswoman said on Monday, after the incurable virus was confirmed this month in 13 children who became paralyzed.

"(The outbreak) is expected to spread within the country, which is why we need to vaccinate all Syrian children," WHO spokeswoman Sona Bari said in an email sent to Reuters...

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Polio in the Syrian Arab Republic ? update (WHO, November 11 2013): 13 cases of WPV1

Syria polio cases spread to Damascus and Aleppo: WHO
BEIRUT Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:58am EST
(Reporting by Oliver Holmes; Editing by Elizabeth Piper)
(Reuters) - The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that additional polio cases had been confirmed in two new areas of Syria, including near Damascus and in the northern city of Aleppo near Turkey.

"In addition to 15 polio cases in Deir al-Zor province, Syria, two additional cases have been confirmed, one each in rural Damascus and Aleppo," the organization said on its Twitter account.
...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/26/us-syria-crisis-polio-idUSBRE9AP0CQ20131126

[DrCat]

Re: Polio in the Syrian Arab Republic: 17 cases

WHO GAR update on this situation has been posted:

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_11_26polio/en/index.html

A total of 17 cases due to wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) have been confirmed in the Syrian Arab Republic. In addition to 15 cases confirmed in Deir Al Zour province, two additional cases have been confirmed, one each in rural Damascus and Aleppo, confirming widespread circulation of the virus. The case with most recent onset developed paralysis on 8 October 2013.

A comprehensive outbreak response continues to be implemented across the region. Seven countries and territories are holding mass polio vaccination campaigns targeting 22 million children under the age of five years. In a joint resolution, all countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region have declared polio eradication to be an emergency, calling for support in negotiating and establishing access to those children who are currently unreached with polio vaccination. WHO and UNICEF are committed to work with all organizations and agencies providing humanitarian assistance to Syrians affected by the conflict to ensure all Syrian children are vaccinated no matter where they live.

It is anticipated that outbreak response will need to continue for at least six to eight months, depending on the area and based on evolving epidemiology.

Given the current situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, frequent population movements across the region and subnational immunity gaps in key areas, the risk of further spread of wild poliovirus across the region is considered to be high. A surveillance alert has been issued for the region to actively search for additional potential cases in addition to implementing the recommended supplementary immunization activities with oral polio vaccine.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Polio in the Syrian Arab Republic: 17 cases

Unconfirmed news from Syrian opposition

computertranslation

Dozens of cases of polio in Syria

01/12/2013

He said the National Coalition of the Syrian opposition that one of the bodies has been able to discover dozens of cases of polio in the country.

(...)

An official at the «Coordination Unit support» of the National Coalition of the Syrian teams «warning and early response» in the unit was able to detect 60 cases of polio in Syria, adding that all cases of polio offset 200 cases of children infected but do not show symptoms.

Was Health Organization Global confirmed that the health status of children in Syria, to the extent of catastrophic, also documented the emergence of several cases of polio in the provinces of Damascus, Aleppo and Deir al-Zour, the OECD forecast the spread of the disease after more low vaccination rates because of the ongoing conflict in the country.

Al Watan

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Polio in the Syrian Arab Republic: 17 cases

As Polio Spreads In Syria, Politics Thwarts Vaccination Efforts

by DEBORAH AMOS

December 02, 2013

The World Health Organization has declared a polio emergency in Syria.

After being free of the crippling disease for more than a decade, Syria recorded 10 confirmed cases of polio in October. Now the outbreak has grown to 17 confirmed cases, the WHO said last week. And the virus has spread to four cities, including a war-torn suburb near the capital of Damascus.

The Syrian government has pledged to immunize all Syrian children under age 5. But wartime politics is getting in the way. And the outbreak is expected to grow.

"Actually, it is spreading quickly," says Dr. Mohammed Al Saad in Gaziantep, Turkey, near the northern border of Syria. There are now more than 60 suspected cases, he says, with new ones reported each day.

The U.N. said Monday that it had airlifted polio vaccines for 538,000 children in hard-to-reach areas of northern Syria, including Dier ez-Zor. The airlift also brought blankets and other winter supplies to families.
Cross-border aid from Turkey — the easier way to reach these children — is still not an option.

More: NPR


From Polio Eradication Initiative:

A comprehensive outbreak response continues to be implemented across the region. On 24 October 2013, an already-planned large-scale supplementary immunization activity was launched in the Syrian Arab Republic to vaccinate 1.6 million children against polio, measles, mumps and rubella, in both government-controlled and contested areas. Implementation of a supplementary immunization campaign in Deir Al Zour province commenced promptly when the first ‘hot’ acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases were reported. Larger-scale outbreak response across the Syrian Arab Republic and neighbouring countries will continue for at least 6-8 months depending on the area and based on the evolving situation. -

See more at: http://www.polioeradication.org/Medi....bZG1wVnI.dpuf

Quote via Twitter from Gregory Härtl (WHO):

12-3-13

@WHO Biggest challenge is reaching the acute conflict areas. Cease-fires or other such negotiated agreements needed. #Syria #polio

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Polio in the Syrian Arab Republic: 17 cases

WHO updates via twitteraccount of WHO spokesman Gregory Härtl

dec 4 2013

Gregory Härtl @HaertlG
including contested areas - during the coming #polio #vaccination round 8-12 Dec #Syria

Gregory Härtl @HaertlG
Planning underway 2 ensure #vaccine gets 2 all districts and sub-districts -including contested areas- #Syria #polio

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Polio in the Syrian Arab Republic: 17 cases

Syrian government left rebel-held site of polio outbreak out of 2012 vaccination campaign By REUTERS
12/17/2013 09:31

Public health researchers say missing out the Syrian province of Deir al-Zor contributed to the reemergence there of polio.

BEIRUT - The Syrian government excluded the largely rebel-held province of Deir al-Zor - where polio broke out this year - from a 2012 vaccination campaign, arguing that most residents had fled although hundreds of thousands were still there, a Reuters investigation shows.

Public health researchers say missing out the Syrian province contributed to the reemergence there of polio, a highly infectious, incurable disease that can paralyze a child within hours but has been wiped out in many parts of the world.
...

http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Syrian-government-left-rebel-held-site-of-polio-outbreak-out-of-2012-vaccination-campaign-335243

[Shiloh]

Re: Polio in the Syrian Arab Republic: 23 cases

Source: http://www.theglobaldispatch.com/syr...eported-92932/


Published On: Sat, Feb 1st, 2014
Outbreak News / Syria | By Robert Herriman
Syria polio outbreak total now 23 as seven new cases reported

For the first time in over two months, the Syrian Arab Republic has reported new wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in the current outbreak in the war-torn country.

According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), seven new WPV1 cases were reported in the past week. The cases were reported from Aleppo, Deir-Al-Zour, Edleb and Hasakeh governorates, all with onset of paralysis in November and December 2013...