DRC - Polio 2022 - 2023

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Maniema: 321,058 children under 5 expected for the polio response vaccination campaign

Published on Thu, 16/03/2023 - 16:10 | Edited on Thu, 03/16/2023 - 16:10

The interim head of the provincial health division of Maniema province, Dr Anaclet Kianga, announced that 321,058 children under 5 years old are expected for the first phase of the polio response vaccination campaign. He announced it during the launch, this Thursday, March 16 in Kindu, of this vaccination campaign.

Its duration is three days.

According to Dr. Anaclet Kianga, several surveys have shown that Maniema is still one of the provinces with a large number of under-vaccinated children, for several reasons. Among which, the poor application of strategies to achieve all the targets:

“We have an obligation to reach each target child through the combination of several strategies including door-to-door, fixed, advanced, mobile and other specific ones. Everyone knows that the disease is so contagious that a child with polio can transmit the disease to 200 or 300 children”.

This campaign will also be an opportunity to recover all the children who have not been vaccinated during routine vaccination campaigns to be.

https://www.radiookapi.net/2023/03/...e-moins-de-5-ans-attendus-pour-la-campagne-de

 

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 13: 20 - 26 March 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 26 March 2023
...
All events currently being monitored by WHO AFRO
...

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Poliomyelitis (cVDPV1) Grade 2

Date notified to WCO 27-Aug-22
Start of reporting period 27-Aug-22
End of reporting period 22-Mar-23

Total cases 117
Cases Confirmed 117
Deaths 0
CFR 0,00%

According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), this week, two cVDPV1 cases were reported in Haut Lomami and Tanganyika with onsets of paralysis in October and November. This brings the total number of cVDPV1 cases in 2022 to 117.

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Democratic Republic of the Congo

Poliomyelitis (cVDPV2) Grade 2

Date notified to WCO 26-Feb-21
Start of reporting period 1-Jan-22
End of reporting period 22-Mar-23

Total cases 321
Cases Confirmed 321
Deaths 0
CFR 0,00%

For this week , the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), has reported that three cVDPV2 cases were reported in Mongala and Tanganyika with onsets of paralysis in October and November 2022 . There are 321 cVDPV2 cases in 2022.
...

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/366672/OEW13_2026032023.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

 

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 15: 3-9 April 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 9 April 2023
...
All events currently being monitored by WHO AFRO
...

Democratic Republic of the Congo Poliomyelitis (cVDPV1) Grade 2

Date notified to WCO 27-Aug-22
Start of reporting period 27-Aug-22
End of reporting period 05-Apr-23

Total cases 140
Cases Confirmed 140
Deaths 0
CFR 0.0%

According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), this week, 12 cVDPV1 cases were reported; six in Tanganyika, one in Haut Lomami and five in Haut Katanga bringing the total number of 2023 cases to eight. There were 132 cVDPV1 cases in 2022.

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Democratic Republic of the Congo Poliomyelitis (cVDPV2) Grade 2

Date notified to WCO 26-Feb-21
Start of reporting period 01-Jan-22
End of reporting period 01-Jan-22

Total cases 352
Cases Confirmed 352
Deaths 0
CFR 0.0%

For this week , the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), has reported that nine cVDPV2 cases were reported; one each in Tanganyika, Haut Katanga, Lualaba, Tshopo and Sud-Kivu, and four in Haut Lomami, bringing the total number of 2023 cases to eight . There were 344 cVDPV2 cases reported in 2022.
...

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/...=1&isAllowed=y

 

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More than 23 million children aged 0 to 59 months targeted during National Polio Vaccination Days in the DRC

July 26, 2023

KINSHASA, 27 JULY 2023 – National Polio Vaccination Days, initiated by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with the support of its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, including including UNICEF and WHO, were launched on July 27, 2023.

More than 23 million children under the age of 5 will receive two drops of oral vaccine to boost their immunity and that of the entire community. Vaccination teams will go door to door with the aim of reaching all children.
...
The epidemiological situation of poliomyelitis in the DRC remains worrying with the co-circulation of poliovirus strains and an international extension of the epidemic in the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Burundi, Botswana and Zambia. DRC alone reported approximately 50% of all poliovirus strains from the African region in 2022.
...

https://www.unicef.org/drcongo/communiques-presse/23-millions-enfants-cibles-poliomyelite

 

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Mai-Ndombe: 3 cases of poliomyelitis reported in Bokoro

Posted on Fri, 04/08/2023 - 09:49 | Modified on Fri, 04/08/2023 - 12:44

At least three cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) are reported in Bokoro health zone, located in Kutu territory (Mai-Ndombe). The head doctor of this area, Yves Mpia Mbembe, announced it on Wednesday August 2 in Bokoro city, during the solemn launch of the vaccination campaign against poliomyelitis.

According to Dr. Yves Mpia Mbembe, the samples taken were sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB), which confirmed the presence of poliomyelitis disease for all three cases.

He indicates that FPA is a sign of poliomyelitis, a viral disease which quite often affects children under five and whose only means of control remains vaccination.
...

https://www.radiookapi.net/2023/08/...-ndombe-3-cas-de-poliomyelite-signales-bokoro

 

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Equateur Health: Discovery of a new case of poliomyelitis in Mbandaka

Saturday September 30, 2023 - 6:37 p.m.

A new case of poliomyelitis was discovered in the Wangata health zone, located in the city of Mbandaka, Équateur province. The announcement was made by Acting Governor, Dr. Taylor Nganzi Nkeka, during the launch of the second phase of the polio vaccination campaign in Equateur Province on Thursday, September 28 .

The new case was identified in the Bralima district, in the Wangata health zone. Investigations are currently underway to vaccinate all children aged 0-5 years in this health zone, with the aim of curbing the spread of polio within the community.

In total, 586,445 children are expected for this second phase of the mass vaccination campaign, according to the vice-governor of Equateur. The province is at high risk of imported polio cases due to the density of its forests, local sources said.

The Acting Deputy Governor urged vaccinators and parents of children to work collaboratively to ensure that all children under 5 years of age are vaccinated against polio.

These vaccination operations will take place over three days, with a door-to-door approach aimed at reaching all affected children, according to the head of the provincial health division, Dr Bienvenu Ikomo.

The vaccination campaign is organized by the Provincial Health Division of Ecuador, which has 18 health zones, with technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and GAVI , as part of the Expanded Vaccination Program (EPI).

Peter Gbiako Ngbala in Mbandaka

https://actualite.cd/2023/09/30/equateur-sante-decouverte-dun-nouveau-cas-de-poliomyelite-mbandaka

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DRC: since 2017, 960 children have been paralyzed due to poliovirus

Tuesday October 24, 2023 - 10:46 p.m.

The world celebrates World Polio Day every October 24, 2023. The aim is to highlight global efforts to achieve a polio-free world, and to salute the unwavering commitment of those on the front lines in the fight to eradicate this disease.

On the occasion Rotary Club Kinshasa, as part of the program called ''the Global Initiative for the Eradication of Poliomyelitis'' (GPEI) held a press briefing this Tuesday, October 24, 2023 to take stock of the situation of the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the statistics presented during this activity, it is noted that thanks to vaccination, the number of polio cases has fallen by 99% worldwide. Regarding the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is noted that there are two variants circulating, notably the type 2 variant polio virus which began in 2017 and the type 1 variant polio virus which has occurred since 2022.

• Since 2017 till date the country has recorded at least 960 children who are paralyzed due to poliovirus.

• In 2022 the DRC recorded 317 cases of the type 2 polio virus variant.

• In 2023 until these days 108 cases.

For the type 1 polio virus variant:

● In 2022, the country recorded 143 cases

●In 2023, until these days 76 cases. Following these recorded cases the country was able to develop a strategic plan and a series of interventions to cope with the country.

“We must always continue to raise awareness. If this world day was decreed it is to raise awareness, it is to remind us that poliomyelitis still remains a public health problem and that there is an intention to carry in order to cross the last kilometer that remains for us in relation to all the efforts that have been made, the number of cases worldwide has significantly decreased by more than 99% but there are still children who these days develop paralysis because they have not been vaccinated against polio which is the only way to fight this disease. For us it is an opportunity to remind people that children must be vaccinated and that all stakeholders at whatever level can get involved so that the vaccination of children is effective,” declared Elisabeth Munkaba, Coordinator. of the committee.

Furthermore, in order to put an end to outbreaks due to the type of poliovirus in circulation, it is recommended to strengthen routine vaccination; improve the quality of the response to epidemics and finally strengthen the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is a public-private partnership led by national governments with six major partners: the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the State Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -United States of America (CDC), UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Gavi Alliance. This program supports the efforts of the Congolese government, more than 600 consultants have been deployed on the ground. A sum of nearly 20 million US dollars was mobilized by GPEI partners, in addition to the supply of vaccines, to ensure the success of vaccination operations throughout the country.

Grace Guka

https://actualite.cd/2023/10/24/rdc-depuis-2017-960-enfants-sont-paralyses-cause-du-poliovirus

 

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Mbuji-Mayi: poliomyelitis resurfaces with 33 cases (DPS)

Thursday October 26, 2023 - 09:36​​

The polio epidemic resurfaces in the Kasai-Oriental province. It was the head of the Provincial Health Division (DPS) who said this on Wednesday October 25, 2023.

Doctor Nestor Tshiteku reports that more than 30 cases of this disease have been recorded in his jurisdiction in the space of a few weeks.

Furthermore, he informs that the various data on the epidemiological situation in the province have not been updated following the nurses' strike.

"We have already reported nearly 33 cases of polio. Already, arrangements are being made for investigations and the campaign is approaching so that things can be well organized so that every child takes their vaccine. But, The difficulty for all our operations at the moment simply remains this nurses' strike which does not allow us to update all our data", declared Doctor Nestor Tshiteku.

It should be noted that the next vaccination campaign against poliomyelitis concerns more than a million children aged 0 to 59 months, spread across three hundred and seventeen health areas which make up Kasaï-Oriental.

Kazadi Lukusa, in Mbuji-Mayi


https://7sur7.cd/2023/10/26/mbuji-mayi-la-poliomyelite-refait-surface-avec-33-cas-dps

 

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DRC: New outbreak of polio in Mbujimayi

Sunday October 29, 2023 - 07:44

The town of Mbujimayi, in Kasai-Oriental province, is facing a worrying resurgence of polio, with more than 30 cases recently reported in children under the age of five. The announcement was made by the chief medical officer of the provincial health division, Bonheur Tshiteku, who confirmed reports of new infections among young children in recent days.

Dr Tshiteku explained: "We have already reported nearly 33 cases of polio in children aged 0 to 59 months. Investigative measures are underway, and a vaccination campaign is being prepared. Our goal is to limit the spread of this disease, the memory of which is still vivid in the province. However, we are facing a major obstacle at the moment, namely the nurses' strike, which hinders the updating of our data and obtaining of the most recent figures."

The next polio vaccination program aims to reach more than a million children aged 0 to 59 months, spread across the 317 health areas and 19 health zones in the Kasai-Oriental province.

It should be noted that the last polio vaccination campaign was launched on March 30 in Mbuji-Mayi, following a door-to-door strategy. This campaign aimed to immunize more than a million children aged 0 to 59 months.

Jean-Marie Makuma

https://actualite.cd/index.php/2023/10/29/rdc-nouvelle-flambee-de-poliomyelite-mbujimayi

 

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 43: 23 October - 29 October 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 29 October 2023
...

Democratic Republic of
the Congo

Polio (cVDPV1 and cVDPV2)

186 Cases
0 Deaths
0.0% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was
certified “wild Polio-free country” by WHO since
November 2015 following zero case of wild Polio
reported in the country since December 2011. However,
regarding vaccine derived polio outbreak, the country
is the most affected in the WHO AFRO region reporting
both circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV1
and cVDPV2 cases).

Since 2017, the country has experienced 23 outbreaks
of vaccine derived Polio, reported in 181 health zones
across 24 provinces. Of the 23 reported outbreaks, 14
(61.0%) ended and nine (39.0%) are still ongoing, with
most cases reported in the southeastern part of the
country, over the last two years (2022 and 2023).

During epidemiological week 41 (ending 15 October
2023), two new cases of cVDPV1 were reported from
two newly affected health zones: Kiambi in Tanganyika
province and Mufunga-Sampwe in Haut Katanga
province. Furthermore, 33 environmental samples
collected in the provincial sites of Kinshasa, Equateur,
Haut Katanga, and Lualaba tested positive for cVDPV2,
of which 85.0% (n=25) were from Kinshasa province.

From epidemiological week 1 to week 41, a total of
186 confirmed circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus
(cVDPV) including 79 (42.5 %) cVDPV1 and 107
(57.5%) cVDPV2 have been reported. Haut Katanga and
Tanganyika provinces were the most affected, with 44
cases (33 cVDPV1 and 11 cVDPV2) and 41 cases (36
cVDPV1 and 5 cVDPV2) respectively.

From 1 January to 19 October 2023, a cumulative total of
3 630 AFP cases have been reported in 98.0% (n=509)
of the 519 health districts, with an estimated no polio AFP
rate of 7.2 per 100 000 population of less than 15 years
old (country target: ≥ 3/100 000). Nearly 60.0% (n=2 083)
of the AFP cases were notified by healthcare providers
(n= 2 083), followed by community health workers
(36.0%, n=1 310), relatives (3.1%, n=113), traditional
healers (0.5%, n=21) and non-government organizations
(0.4%, n=16).

The percentage of AFP cases notified within 7 days of
the onset of paralysis was 67.1% (target: ≥ 80 %), and
only 9.1% (target: ≥ 80%) of the collected samples
reached the laboratory for investigation within 3 days
or less; the remaining samples arrived late.

Since 2017 and as of 20 October 2023, there have
been a cumulative total of 23 648 AFP cases, with 938
(4.0%) confirmed polio cases including 722 (77.0%)
cVDPV2 and 216 (23.0%) cVDPV1. The highest
number of cases was reported in 2022 with a total
of 520 (55.4%) confirmed cVDPV cases, including
377 cVDPV2 and 143 cVDPV1. Haut Lomami and
Tanganyika provinces reported most cases with 185
cases (103 cVDPV1 and 82 cVDPV2) and 163 cases
(103 cVDPV1 and 82 cVDPV2) respectively.

From 20 October 2022 to 19 October 2023, of the
3 644 reported AFP cases, 46% (n=1 676) of those
aged between 6- 59 months, received more than four
Polio vaccine doses, while 16.0% (n=583) had an
unknown vaccination status, and 10.0% (n=365) had
zero Polio vaccine dose.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

The Ministry of health is coordinating the
preparation and implementation of polio
vaccination campaigns in the affected provinces
and health zones with support from WHO and
other implementing partners.

WHO continues to support the training of national,
provincial and health zones surveillance officers
on electronic surveillance

Active Polio case search, case investigation and
supportive integrated supervisions in the affected
health zones are ongoing.

Annual review of environmental surveillance sites
is ongoing, and investigations of polioviruses
isolated from environmental samples are
underway.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

Vaccine derived Polio disease remains a public health
concern in DRC. While efforts have been made to fulfill
two key indicators, namely AFP case investigation
within 48 hours, and stool sample collection adequacy,
there still a need to strengthen cases notification within
7 days of the onset of paralysis and ensure that samples are
shipped to the laboratory within 3 days or less. It’s worth noting
a significant community involvement in reporting AFP
cases, with nearly 36% of AFP cases reported.
The Government along with its partners should
enhance and maintain quality routine polio vaccination
activities, as well as targeted response
efforts in hard-to-reach areas to achieve the
national and global polio eradication objectives.

https://www.afro.who.int/countries/...-bulletin-week-43-23-october-29-october-2023\[]​

 

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Tanganyika: significant drop in poliomyelitis cases, EPI raises the need to continue vaccination

Wednesday November 22, 2023 - 10:31 p.m.

In the province of Tanganyika, the number of confirmed cases of poliomyelitis has decreased significantly since the start of the current year, announces the provincial medical coordinator of the expanded immunization program (EPI), Dr Jean-Pierre Kitenge Mikenza.

According to him, the number of polio cases has fallen by 75% and the number of patients has fallen from nearly 147 to 41 across the 11 health zones in the province since the beginning of the year; and of these 41 cases, more than 36 cases are caused by type 1 polio, and the remaining 5 are type 2. Despite these figures, Dr. Mikenza points out the low vaccination coverage in Tanganyika, which surrounded by courses of water and varying relief.

“Many areas are bordered by several watercourses. This may pose difficulties regarding the accessibility of the vaccine in these areas. Tanganyika also has mountains which make it difficult to administer general health care, including vaccination. This is one of the weaknesses of the province's vaccination system. And this could explain the comeback of the type 1 polio variant which had disappeared for a while,” he reports.

A vaccination campaign against Poliomyelitis took place in the province of Tanganyika from November 17 to 20.

During a workshop held in Kinshasa on the analysis of the vaccination situation in the DRC, with a view to planning the future financing of the EPI for the period from 2025 to 2029, the experts recognized that Tanganyika was among the 3 provinces which maintain regular vaccination coverage, with Haut-Lomani and Lualaba. Recent strikes by vaccination workers had slowed down vaccination in this part of the country.

Jean Marie Makuma

https://actualite.cd/2023/11/22/tan...as-de-poliomyelite-pev-evoque-la-necessite-de

 

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Tanganyika: two cases of polio recorded in the Kalemie health zone in 10 months

Published on Sun, 26/11/2023 - 23:36 | Modified on Sun, 26/11/2023 - 23:42

Two confirmed cases of polio and 47 others of acute flaccid paralysis have been recorded since last January in the Kalemie health zone (Tanganyika).

The chief medical officer of this health zone, Dr Yvan Mwamba reported these figures in an interview with the media.

“ Thus, this year 2023, the Kalemie health zone recorded only two confirmed cases of polio while 47 cases of acute flaccid paralysis whose samples were sent to the INRB in Kinshasa for analysis” he said . he declares.

This doctor director of the Kalemie General Reference Hospital (Tanganyika) attributed this improvement to the implementation of the strategy called “owl”.

This consists of vaccinators going into households and vaccinating children at night under the supervision of either their mothers or fathers.

According to this doctor director of the Kalemie General Reference Hospital (Tanganyika), this “owl” strategy supports others used in the fight against poliomyelitis and other diseases.

“ Regarding polio vaccination, we use the door-to-door strategy, and the second strategy we use is the owl strategy, where the nurses (IT) and health area coordinators go to the households and vaccinate the children at night under the supervision of either the mother or the father. Under the pretext that we cannot score, because the dad does not agree with vaccination and the mom agrees, so it is done at night when the dad is absent,” underlined Dr. Yvan Mwamba.

Another vaccination strategy “consists of the involvement of indigenous peoples (the pygmies) in vaccination activities as community relays in order to bring the population together.

“ These refractory groups easily agree to be vaccinated if they find that a community relay is from their community ,” added this doctor.

A third strategy is recovery through routine vaccination:

“There are information sheets that the community relays use and each time we identify a child receiving vaccination, the community relays direct the child with a token to the respective health area to go and take the vaccine. There are vaccination activities that IT organizes on site, in health areas and advanced activities, IT travel from one village to another to vaccinate.”

These vaccination strategies and in particular the owl strategy have paid off.

He also recommended that the Congolese state help health zones in “planning vaccination activities.

“ This good planning helps us at the provincial level to properly coordinate our activities and achieve the objective and properly cover the target population that we are supporting ,” continued Dr. Yvan Mwamba.

Finally, the head doctor of the Kalemie health zone mentioned cases of resistance to vaccination. These cases are often due to the religious beliefs of certain sects such as Watch Taywer, Red Kimbanguism, etc.

The town of Kalemie has two health zones: Nyemba and Kalemie. The Kalemie health zone includes 27 health areas including 8 in the town of Kalemie and 19 in the outskirts of the town.


https://www.radiookapi.net/2023/11/...-recenses-dans-la-zone-de-sante-de-kalemie-en

 

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Kwilu: vials of polio vaccine incinerated in Bandundu

Published on Tue, 12/12/2023 - 17:13 | Modified on Tue, 12/12/2023 - 5:13 p.m.

Thousands of empty OPV vaccine vials were incinerated on Monday, December 11 in the town of Bandundu (Kwilu) by the branch of the Expanded Immunization Program (EPI).

These are vials recovered after the third phase of the polio vaccination campaign last November.

According to the interim head of the Kwilu provincial health division, Dr Donat Kuma Kuma, these vials were incinerated to avoid their handling and, therefore, the spread of the virus within the population.

The incineration ceremony of these vials took place in the concession of the general reference hospital of Bandundu, in the presence of several health authorities, health workers as well as the police.

Donat Kuma Kuma explains:

“You found us carrying out the incineration of the vials, therefore the destruction of all the vials that we recovered during the third phase of the polio vaccination campaign. You know, the vaccine is a microbe whose virulence has been attenuated. So given that we are involved in the eradication of poliomyelitis, all these vials that were used, taking into account the specificity of the type of vaccine that was used, which is very linked to the vaccine type, so we decided, according to the instructions, to destroy these vials since when you leave that, it is enough for people to be able to handle them, it is this virus that they will handle”.

https://www.radiookapi.net/2023/12/...ons vides,la poliomyélite de novembre dernier.