Nine Countries Confirm Poliovirus Last Week

To eradicate polio, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative brings together the latest scientific knowledge on this vaccine-preventable disease. In late July 2024, the GPEI launched Team End Polio, a new campaign to unite fans everywhere around a common goal: to end polio for good.

Team End Polio is bringing together a world-class roster of athletes, global leaders, and advocates to raise awareness for polio eradication online and on the field.

This effect is essential since the risk of the emergence of a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1), Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), or circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 3 (cVDPV3) has increased due to low vaccination coverage.

The GPEI also tracks the status of the poliovirus spreading every week. During the week of July 31, 2024, the following poliovirus reports were confirmed:

Pakistan: 11 WPV1-positive environmental samples

Chad: one cVDPV2 case and one positive environmental sample

Guinea: one cVDPV2 case

Liberia: two cVDPV2 positive environmental samples

Niger: three cVDPV2 positive environmental samples

Nigeria: six cVDPV2 cases and three positive environmental samples

Palestinian Territory: six cVDPV2 positive environmental samples

Sierra Leone: one cVDPV2 positive environmental sample

Yemen: one cVDPV2 case

The U.S. CDC's latest Travel Health Advisory says that before visiting any of 34 destinations, adults who have previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series may receive a single, lifetime booster dose of the polio vaccine. Polio vaccines are offered at health clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.