By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
This past week, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) reported additional wild poliovirus cases in Pakistan.
Three cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) were reported: one each in Khyber Pakhtoon, KPTD and Sindh bringing the number of 2020 cases to 39.
Globally, 42 WPV1 cases have been reported in 2020 to date (including 3 in Afghanistan).
In related news, last Sunday on Twitter, Columbia University Virologist Vincent Racaniello, PhD reminded us of an important achievement:
On this day 65 years ago the first #poliovirus vaccine was licensed in US after an historic clinical trial in 1.8 million children. Do you think we will have similar headlines for #SARSCoV2 vaccine in 2021? Salk inactivated polio vaccine is still in use today!
Poliovirus was isolated in 1908 – it took nearly 50 years to develop the first vaccine! We have significantly improved vaccine development but it is still not instantaneous. 18 months for #SARSCoV2 will be a record
- Oklahoma COVID-19: Death toll rises to 139, Tulsa increased testing capacity
- Measles in the Americas: 1,100 confirmed cases to date; Buenos Aires, Mexico City and São Paulo
- Rabies: 10 cases of confirmed cases in wildlife in Oswego County, NY
- New Jersey coronavirus tally tops 80,000, More deaths than seen in three past flu seasons combined
- Fiji: Leptospirosis, dengue and typhoid reported post Tropical Cyclone Harold
- Turkey COVID-19 outbreak: 3800 new cases, Total cases double in 10 days
- Spain COVID-19 death toll tops 20,000, More than 900K tests performed
Vaccines for viruses are tricky because of possible mutations. For example, some reports indicate anywhere from two to eight Coronavirus mutations, already. This would prolong the development and test time and leave the door open for incomplete or incorrect vaccine development. Premature introduction may lead to complications and society backlash.