This week, the Polio Working Group of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE) is meeting at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. The group is expected to review the latest global epidemiology, impact of various strategic and tactical approaches, and discuss potential additional program innovations such as expanded use of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). Outcomes of the deliberations will be presented to the full SAGE meeting in late September.
Afghanistan carried out its first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of the year from April 21-23, targeting more than 11 million children under age five. The effort was synchronized with a similar campaign in Pakistan. Four weeks later, Afghanistan had a second nationwide campaign, again synchronized with Pakistan’s. This coordination intensifies the fight before the season of high risk of transmission begins. Read more about Afghanistan’s efforts.
New poliovirus cases and positive environmental isolates this week:
- Angola: one cVDPV2 case and no cVDPV2-positive environmental samples. There have been six cases reported in 2025. there were 9 in 2024.
- Central African Republic: one cVDPV2 case and no cVDPV2-positive environmental samples. This is the first case this year.
- DR Congo: one cVDPV1 case and no cVDPV2 cases. This is the first case this year.
- Pakistan: two WPV1 cases and 42 WPV1-positive environmental samples. The total WPV1 cases for 2025 is 21. There were 74 in 2024.
- Tanzania: No cVDPV2 cases and one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
- Yemen: 26 cVDPV2 cases and no cVDPV2-positive environmental samples. (This increase in reported cases is not due to increased transmission, but is linked to retrospective testing or previously-collected samples.)
Contact your District’s Rotary Foundation Chairperson or PolioPlus Chairperson for additional information or for a presentation to your clubs or district.