Wednesday, June 7, 2023
News on Pathogens and Preparedness
Global Biodefense
  • Featured
  • COVID-19
  • Funding
  • Directory
  • Jobs
  • Events
  • Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • COVID-19
  • Funding
  • Directory
  • Jobs
  • Events
  • Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
Global Biodefense
No Result
View All Result
Home Biosecurity

WHO Concerned About Poliovirus Outbreak in Horn of Africa

by Global Biodefense Staff
May 23, 2013

Horn of AfricaAn outbreak of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in the Horn of Africa has prompted urgent vaccination campaigns in the region, according to the World Health Organization. 

A four-month-old girl near Dadaab, Kenya, developed symptoms at the end of April. Two healthy contacts of the child then tested positive for WPV1. They are the first laboratory confirmed cases in Kenya since July 2011. Additionally, a case of WPV1 in Banadir, Somalia was confirmed on 9 May 2013.

As investigations into the outbreak are ongoing, the risk to neighboring countries is assessed as very high, due to large-scale population movements across the Horn of Africa and persistent immunity gaps in some areas.

The first vaccination campaign, reaching 440,000 children began on May 13, 2013 in Somalia and a second round of vaccination is planned for May 26, 2013 in synchronization with the affected parts of Kenya. 

PoliovirusAn alert for enhanced surveillance for polio has been issued to all countries across the Horn of Africa, highlighting the need to conduct active searches for any suspected cases. All countries are urged to rapidly identify sub-national surveillance gaps and to take measures to fill the gaps. 

In 2005, polio spread east across the African continent, and into Yemen and the Horn of Africa, resulting in over 700 cases. Since then, international outbreak responses have been adopted and new monovalent and bivalent oral polio vaccines have been developed, which can significantly reduce the severity and length of polio outbreaks.

Source: World Health Organization

Tags: Emerging ThreatsPolio

Related Posts

Vials of finished vaccines
Funding News

UK Biomanufacturing Fund to Bolster Supply Chain Resilience and Pandemic Preparedness

May 26, 2023
Aptitude Awarded Up to $54M BARDA Funding for At-Home Diagnostics
Industry News

Aptitude Awarded Up to $54M BARDA Funding for At-Home Diagnostics

April 20, 2023
Medical Countermeasures

Scientists Design Molecule to Slow SARS-Cov-2 Infection

March 29, 2023
Influenza Proteins Tilt and Wave in ‘Breath-like’ Motions
Pathogens

Influenza Proteins Tilt and Wave in ‘Breath-like’ Motions

January 25, 2023
Load More

Latest News

Vials of finished vaccines

UK Biomanufacturing Fund to Bolster Supply Chain Resilience and Pandemic Preparedness

May 26, 2023
Dr. Sen Pei Discusses Challenges in Forecasting Antimicrobial Resistance

Dr. Sen Pei Discusses Challenges in Forecasting Antimicrobial Resistance

April 26, 2023
Biodefense Headlines – 25 April 2023

Biodefense Headlines – 25 April 2023

April 25, 2023
Aptitude Awarded Up to $54M BARDA Funding for At-Home Diagnostics

Aptitude Awarded Up to $54M BARDA Funding for At-Home Diagnostics

April 20, 2023

Subscribe

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Stemar Media Group LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • COVID-19
  • Funding
  • Directory
  • Jobs
  • Events
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Stemar Media Group LLC