Not surprisingly, given the current public health situation worldwide, the number of polio cases caused by the wild poliovirus continues to rise year over year.  Thus far in 2020 we have had 61 cases detected, 49 in Pakistan and 12 in Afghanistan.  These numbers reflect the latest report available, dated 26 May 2020.  This compares to 40 cases a year ago. There have also been 121 cases of cVDPV this year as compared to 36 a year ago. (cVDPV is vaccine derived polio virus). 

 

Additionally, positive environmental samples of WPV1 (Wild Poliovirus 1) and WPV2 continue to be found in endemic area and areas at risk. For the latest reporting period 4 new positive environmental samples have been found in Pakistan and 8 new environmental samples have been found in Afghanistan.

 

Vaccine derived cases of poliovirus 2 have been observed the year in Niger, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Togo and Cóte d'Ivoire. This is addition to cVDPV cases in Nigeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and the Philippines.  Note the predominance of Africa continent countries.

 

As the immunization model Rotary and its partners have in place is converted to battle Covid-19 we can realistically expect to see a large jump in poliovirus cases this year.  While this is sure to be discouraging, Rotary International has vowed to come back even stronger in its battle to eradicate polio once the current crisis is behind us.

 

Now more than ever it is imperative that we as Rotarians do not give up the ship and that we continue our generous donations to the End Polio Now – Make History today campaign.