In Syria, a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreak has been confirmed. The virus strain was isolated from two cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and one healthy contact, from Deir-Ez-Zor governorate. See the ‘Syrian Arab Republic’ section below for more information.
The final decision made by the World Health Assembly on 29 May on polio transition planning is now available online. The decision follows extensive discussions by Member States on the need to address the challenge of scaling down the polio programme as eradication comes closer, including the potential impact on achieving and sustaining a polio-free world, on health system programmes and on systems currently supported by polio assets. Delegates welcomed existing efforts to plan for the post-polio world, and stressed the importance of careful, considered and strategic approaches to the transition of polio assets, requesting the Director-General to prepare a detailed transition action plan.
Summary of newly-reported viruses this week: Syria – two new circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) isolated from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases and one cVDPV2 isolated from a healthy contact; and, Pakistan – four new environmental sample positive for wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1).
Source: Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Country: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lao People's Democratic Republic (the), Nigeria, Pakistan, Syrian Arab Republic
