Africa: Somalia, DR Congo report more polio cases
The total circulating vaccine-derived polio cases (cVDPV) cases has risen to 13 globally after additional cases have been reported in the African countries of Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to new information from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), in Somalia, one cVDPV case combining type 2 and type 3 in Hiran province with onset on 11 May and two cVDPV cases type 3 in Middle Shabelle with onset on 16 and 23 of May.
This brings the total in Somalia to five in 2018.
Outbreak response to both strains is currently being implemented, in line with internationally-agreed guidelines. Large-scale supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) have been implemented in Banadir, Lower and Middle Shabelle regions, Somalia, with additional SIAs planned in the affected zones of the Horn of Africa. Special surveillance activities are being undertaken to determine the origin of the viral circulation.
In DRC, three new cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) were reported in the past week. One in Mongala province with onset on 26 April, a second one in Ituri province with onset on 5 May and a third one in Haut Katanga with onset on 14 May.
The total number of officially reported cVDPV2 cases in the DRC in 2018 is 7.
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