While we are in the middle of the endgame strategy to end polio, wild polio virus cases are still occurring in the border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan. We pass along weekly updates from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative on this site,
Polio this week as of 20 March 2018
 
 
HeadlinesSummary of newly-reported viruses this week: Afghanistan: Two new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) have been confirmed this week, one occurring in Kunar province, and one in Kandahar province. These cases were advance notification last week. Pakistan: One new WPV1 positive environmental sample has been reported in Sindh province. Democratic Republic of the Congo: One new case of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) reported, from Haut Lomami province. Somalia: An advance notification of one new cVDPV2 positive environmental sample has been received, from Banadir province.
 
Afghanistan:    Two new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) were confirmed this week. One case occurred in Gaziabad district, Kunar province, with onset of paralysis on 14 February, and the other case occurred in Shawalikot district, Kandahar province, with onset of paralysis on 19 February.
This will raise the total number of officially reported WPV1 cases in Afghanistan in 2018 to five.
Supplementary immunization days were recently completed, with vaccinators aiming to vaccinate children across 34 provinces using bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV).
 
Pakistan:  No new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) were reported in the past week.
   The total number of officially reported WPV1 cases in Pakistan in 2017 remains eight. There are no cases reported in 2018.
   The most recent case (by date of onset) was reported in Zhob district, Balochistan province, with onset on 15 November 2017.

Nigeria:   No new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) were reported in the past week.
   The total number of WPV1 cases for 2016 is four and no cases have been reported in 2017 or 2018.
   The most recent case (by date of onset) was reported in Monguno Local Government Area, Borno, with onset on 21 August 2016.