The number of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) cases reported in 2017 is now 47 as additional cases have been reported in Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

Image/CIA
Image/CIA

In Syria, six new cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) were officially reported in the past week from Deir-Ez-Zour governorate, bringing the total number of cases in this outbreak to 39. Onset of paralysis of these cases is between 3 March and 10 July.  The bulk of all cases are from Deir-Ez-Zour, the epicentre of this outbreak.

In the DRC, one new case of type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) was reported in the past week from Haut Lomami province, with onset of paralysis on 20 June.

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The total number of cVDPV2 cases this year in the country is now eight, in two separate outbreaks:  in Haut Lomami province (six cases, with onset of paralysis of the most recent case on 20 June); and in Maniema province (two cases with onset of paralysis on 26 March and 18 April, with an additional isolate detected in a healthy individual with sample collection on 2 May).

The number of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases remain unchanged at nine year-to-date , with six reported from Afghanistan and three from Pakistan.

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