Pakistan polio total rises to 30 year to date, Polio workers pitching in with COVID-19 surveillance

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

Pakistan reported five additional wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases during the past week, bringing the total to 30 in 2020 to date.

The five new cases include two in Khyber Pakhtoon and one each in KPTD, Balochistan and Sindh.

Including the two confirmed cases this year in Afghanistan, the global total is 32.

In a statement today, The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) said polio workers from all GPEI partners are pitching in with COVID-19 surveillance, health worker training, contact tracing, risk communications and more.

GPEI said: We recognize that the COVID-19 emergency means that some aspects of polio eradication program will be affected. GPEI is currently finalizing operational guidelines and contingency plans for the polio eradication program to determine what assets can be deployed to COVID-19 preparedness and response and to identify which critical activities must continue if polio eradication is not to lose ground. We will continue to communicate on plans as they evolve.

In solidarity with the most vulnerable, the polio program will share its assets to ensure this new epidemic is defeated as quickly as possible. Our commitment to eradication is firm; our commitment to stand together against COVID-19 is now.



