Polio News - January 2012 Edition

Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)'s Polio News, January 2012, reflects on the year of 2011 "as one of mixed success and setbacks. One success will go into the history books: India has gone 12 months without reporting a case of polio. However, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria saw increases in cases compared to 2010. Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo made serious inroads against their re-established transmission, yet Chad continues to account for a high number of cases. Type 3 case numbers are down to lowest-ever levels, yet we suffered new outbreaks in five countries. Cases from outbreaks in previously polio-free areas declined significantly, but some outbreaks persisted such as that along the Uganda/Kenyan border."

This resource provides links to recent data and strategic efforts. Communication efforts globally are focusing on polio eradication as an emergency situation: "The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have moved their headquarters-level polio work to their Emergency Operations Center, and the polio department of the World Health Organization is currently working from the Strategic Health Operations Centre until a new high-tech operations centre for polio is fully functional by end-January. As key countries ramp up their emergency action plans, these operations centres enable closer support, real-time data sharing and more, as seen during natural disasters and pandemics."

Click here for the 2-page resource in PDF format (English).
Click here for the 2-page resource in PDF format (French).