Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Pakistan, January 2016–September 2017

Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Pakistan, January 2017–September 2018

“…Pakistan remains one of only three countries worldwide (the others are Afghanistan and Nigeria) that has never had interrupted WPV1 transmission. This report documents Pakistan’s activities and progress toward polio eradication during January 2017–September 2018 and updates previous reports ( 1 , 2 ). In 2017, Pakistan reported eight WPV1 cases, a 60% decrease from 20 cases in 2016.…”

Surveillance to Track Progress Toward Polio Eradication — Worldwide, 2016–2017

“…Although most national-level surveillance quality indicators improved in 2017, considerable variation exists at subnational levels, particularly in inaccessible areas, and timely detection of circulating polioviruses can be hampered if active surveillance efforts are not rigorous. Repeated detection of WPV and cVDPV from sewage samples in locations where poliovirus cases have not been detected or where sewage detections have preceded detection in persons can provide early evidence of viral circulation within a community (e.g., WPV isolation in Pakistan during 2017) ( 8 ). Strategies to strengthen AFP surveillance in areas where conflict occurs have included increased AFP case searches among camps for internally displaced persons, engagement of community members in inaccessible areas, and active case searches in newly accessible areas ( 5 ).…”

Progress Toward Polio Eradication — Worldwide, January 2016–March 2018

“…* National Pol3 coverage with the third dose of OPV (OPV3) in the three countries with endemic WPV transmission in 2016 was 60% in Afghanistan, 72% in Pakistan, and 49% in Nigeria. OPV3 coverage is substantially lower in areas of WPV transmission, where children in high-risk mobile populations or areas of conflict are repeatedly missed ( 4 , 5 ). Rarely, in areas with low vaccination coverage, Sabin-like viruses can spread and revert to neurovirulence, resulting in outbreaks of disease caused by circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV).…”