Weekly Bulletin on Outbreaks and other Emergencies: Week 26: 24 - 30 June 2024 (Data as reported by: 17:00; 30 June 2024)

This Weekly Bulletin focuses on public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African region. This week’s articles cover:

• Poliomyelitis (cVDPV2) in Angola

• Diphtheria in Nigeria

• Malaria in Ethiopia

For each of these events, a brief description, followed by public health measures implemented and an interpretation of the situation, is provided.

A table is provided at the end of the bulletin with information on all new and ongoing public health events currently being monitored in the region, as well as recent events that have been controlled and closed.

Major issues include

In June 2024, Angola confirmed a new case of polio in Alto Zambeze District, Moxico province, bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This brings the total to 10 confirmed cases across Luanda, Huambo, Lunda Norte, and Moxico provinces.

Among these cases, four were found in children under five years old, while six were detected in the environment. Angola’s Ministry of Health, supported by WHO, UNICEF, GAVI, CDC, BMG, Rotary International, and other partners, conducted a second round of vaccinations in late June to halt the transmission and protect children from polio. There remains an increased risk of cross-border transmission along the DRC-Angola border, which necessitates continued vigilance and coordinated efforts to combat polio.