Polio this week as of 17 April 2019

Co-chairs of Immunization Management Group (IMG) announced that the global goal set out in 2013 of 126-OPV using countries to introduce 1 dose of IPV in their immunization programme has been achieved.

Eminent Islamic religious scholars from Afghanistan and Pakistan came together in Muscat, Oman for the first ever joint Ulama Conference, under the aegis of the Islamic Advisory Group (IAG). for polio eradication The IAG convened religious scholars in a bid to appreciate their value as community leaders and secure bilateral support for polio eradication efforts across the joint poliovirus transmission corridors. At the end of the two-day conference, the scholars issued a joint declaration in support of the polio efforts. Watch the Opening Session here. Read the declaration here.

In keeping with the recommendations of the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR), Afghanistan and Pakistan have introduced an all-age polio vaccination for travelers crossing international borders to increase general population immunity the common wild poliovirus transmission corridor. Read more.

Summary of new viruses this week: Afghanistan—three wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1)-positive environmental samples; Pakistan—three WPV1-positive environmental samples; Nigeria—one circulating vaccine-derived type 2 (cVDPV2) case and seven cVDPV2-positive environmental samples. See country sections below for more details.