Nigeria: CDC statement - Two Cases of Polio Detected in Borno, Nigeria - August 11, 2016

[sharon sanders]

From: "Media@cdc.gov (CDC)" <sohco@CDC.GOV>
To: MMWR-MEDIA@LISTSERV.CDC.GOV
Subject: CDC Media Statement: Two Cases of Polio Detected in Nigeria
Date: Aug 11, 2016 6:40 PM

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[TD] Media Statement

For Immediate Release
Thursday, August 11, 2016

Contact: CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Two Cases of Polio Detected in Nigeria

Two children have been diagnosed with polio in Nigeria, after two years without any polio recognized in that country. Polio is a terrible disease that no child should suffer. Confirmation of wild poliovirus in Nigeria is a disappointing setback but doesn?t change our determination to end polio, or the fact that the world has continued to make progress toward polio eradication.

The two cases were detected in the Nigerian State of Borno by the Nigerian polio surveillance system The volatile security situation in this area can significantly impact disease surveillance and vaccination efforts.

CDC scientists and physicians have a long history of collaborating with the Government of Nigeria and international health partners such asWHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support polio eradication efforts in Nigeria and throughout the world through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. CDC will continue to provide technical and scientific support as part of the Nigerian and global response to polio eradication.

This is not the first time that polio eradication efforts have experienced a setback. It is a reminder that we must redouble efforts to strengthen surveillance and immunization activities. We remain 100% committed to eradicating polio. The smallpox eradication program has experienced many setbacks on the path to end this disease. Our experience has taught us that commitment and perseverance are two critical elements needed for success. We continue our commitment to end polio and will persevere until it is eradicated forever.
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[sharon sanders]

Please see other articles about Nigeria:

Nigeria - Emergency as unidentified infection hits 41 children, including 9 deaths, in the Federal Capital Territory - possible gastroenteritis or food poisoning - August 7, 2016

Nigeria - HP H5N1 Avian Flu confirmed - Spread to 24 states

Deux ans sans nouveau cas de polio au Nigeria

Nigeria: 2016 Measles

Nigeria: Lassa fever outbreak kills 149 to date in 23 states, 273 cases

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

30 Aug 2016

Public health emergency declared in Lake Chad basin following Nigeria polio outbreak

Government officials from across the Lake Chad sub-region call for a co-ordinated regional response following the recent wild polio cases in Nigeria

Following the recent detection of wild poliovirus in Nigeria, Ministers of Health from Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Niger and Nigeria have declared the polio outbreak in Nigeria as a public health emergency for countries of the Lake Chad basin. The declaration, coming out of the 66th session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the African Region, demonstrates commitment from governments across the region to bolster momentum in the fight against the virus.

A regional response to a regional risk
The declaration requests that Nigeria and all countries of the Lake Chad Basin, as a matter of the utmost urgency, fully implement coordinated outbreak responses in order to quickly interrupt this outbreak before the end of 2016 and prevent international spread. It calls on all Member States of countries of the Lake Chad Basin to extend all possible support, including political advocacy and engagement at all levels, for successful coordination and implementation of synchronized polio vaccination activities across the countries of the Lake Chad sub-region. The declaration builds on the sustained commitment of member states across the region in the path towards polio eradication, highlighted at the African Union summit in June 2015 where African heads of state gathered to declare polio eradication a &#147;historical legacy for future generations&#148;.

Immediate action, challenging terrain
An immediate response was mounted by the Nigerian government following the outbreak by quickly declaring it as a public health emergency and mobilizing the needed resources, with a large-scale vaccination campaign implemented and further rounds planned across the Lake Chad sub-region.

While challenging terrain lies ahead in beating the poliovirus for good, in Nigeria, and in Africa &#150; not least because of the grave humanitarian situation in many of the countries around Lake Chad &#150; the declaration of a regional emergency provides an important foundation for action, including the mobilization of necessary financial, political and technical support from partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and governments across the region.