Headlines:
- WHO Executive Board: This week and next week, global health leaders are convening at WHO’s Executive Board to discuss global public health policy, including on the global effort to eradicate polio. In his opening address, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that no wild poliovirus cases had been reported anywhere since September 2022, and commended support for this effort globally, including through the pledging of US$2.6 billion to the effort in October. The ongoing proceedings can be viewed here.
- Gearing up to stop polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2023: In October 2022, the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for Afghanistan and Pakistan met in Muscat, Oman, to conduct a thorough review of ongoing polio eradication efforts in the remaining polio endemic countries. During the 6-day meeting they also provided strategic technical guidance on steering efforts towards successful interruption of the poliovirus in both countries in 2023. Read more…
- Syria takes steps to advance polio transition while strengthening essential health priorities: “The main goal of this mission is to ensure that the polio essential functions are well preserved,” — Dr Rana Hajjeh, Director of Programme Management at WHO’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. Read more…
Summary of new polioviruses this week:
- Pakistan: one WPV1 positive environmental sample
- Central African Republic: one cVDPV2 case
- Chad: seven cVDPV2 cases and one positive environmental sample
- Indonesia: one cVDPV2 case
- Nigeria: one cVDPV2 case
- Somalia: one cVDPV2 positive environmental sample
- Yemen: one cVDPV2 case
Source: Global Polio Eradication Initiative