Seven countries – Afghanistan and six African nations – have reported more polio cases in the past week, all involving circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), according to an update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
The update was published on 17 July by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota in the United States.
Afghanistan's latest case is from Ghanzi in the south-eastern part of the country, putting its total for the year at 41.
In Africa, Burkina Faso reported two more cVDPV2 cases, one each from Dori and Banfora, which are counted in its 2020 total, which is now 65. Benin reported one case, which involves a patient from Couffo, marking the country's second case of the year.
The Democratic Republic of Congo reported one case from Sud-Ubangi province, lifting its 2021 total to eight. Ethiopia reported six new cases, four from Oromiya and one each from Tigray and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples region – the first cases reported for 2021. In 2020, the country identified 26 cases.
Elsewhere in Africa, Niger reported one more case in Zinder, which is counted with the country's 2020 total now standing at 10. And finally, Senegal reported five cases from five different areas, bringing its 2021 total to nine.
Update on the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy website
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
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