World Health Organization (WHO) data indicate a growing outbreak of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Angola since January 2010. All new cases are in the capital Luanda or in previously polio-free areas— Bie, Bengo, Huambo, Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul. Risk of international transmission is high, according to WHO.
At a seminar on “The Role of Mass Media Toward Fighting Polio in Angola”, Minister of Health Dr José Vieira Dias Van-Dúnem announced an “Emergency Plan to Stop Transmission of Polio in Angola”. The plan increases oral vaccinations in high-risk areas beginning August 2010 and increases information dissemination in remote areas.
In the Kabompo District, Zambia, Medical Officer Stephen Shajanika stated Angolan-Zambian cross-border activity poses a serious health threat. Zambian Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao is currently responding to a measles outbreak in the country. Now through 24 July 2010, Zambian children will get both measles and polio immunizations in 30 districts bordering Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite Simbao’s strong statement, the risk of polio transmission is unlikely to affect Angolan-Zambian relations for several reasons-- the number of cases is statistically low, the immunization responses appear sufficient, and Angola and Zambia sucessfully collaborated in a similar immunization effort in 2001-2002.
SOURCES
http://www.who.int/topics/poliomyelitis/en/
http://www.polioeradication.org/casecount.asp
http://www.lusakatimes.com/?p=27597
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/VVOS-87HKPV?OpenDocument
