Somalia
16 January 2006

Latest case count

Current situation
The ongoing polio epidemic  (total 153 cases) has spread outside the capital Mogadishu.  Somalia is the only country in the world with a geographically expanding polio outbreak. With recent confirmation of cases outside Mogadishu, including in the north of the country, the risk remains of continued spread of wild poliovirus in Somalia, and potential for spread to neighbouring countries. Polio immunization campaigns are planned for February, aiming to reach the country's 1.6 million children under 5 years of age. 

Background
Somalia, a country plagued by ongoing conflict, insecurity, the lack of a health infrastructure and low rates of population immunity, is at the top of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative's list of acute challenges. Recognizing the threat of poliovirus importations due to polio outbreaks in nearby Ethiopia, Sudan and Yemen, Somalia had previously conducted three NIDs before the first polio case of the outbreak in July 2005. These preventive campaigns have been instrumental in limiting the spread of the virus following importation.

Response
Five National Immunization Days (NID) have been conducted since the start of the outbreak and have limited the geographic spread of the virus. Four of these campaigns used the powerful new monovalent oral polio vaccine. 

A review of management and operations in the country was conducted in November in order to guide action and limit the outbreak. To overcome the constant constraints of insecurity and inaccessibility, WHO and UNICEF work in close collaboration with communities and local officials on the polio eradication effort. The programme employs 198 national and 10 international  staff. During immunization campaigns, additional community members are recruited to assist in vaccination, logistics, social mobilization and security.

With sufficient funding, additional immunization activities will be conducted in early  2006 and the outbreak could be stopped by the end of the first quarter.