November 2007
Data as of 20 November 2007    

• Rotary International and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation commit US$200 million – polio eradication is 'One of the most significant public health achievements in history' says Bill Gates: On 26 November 2007, Rotary International and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) announced a partnership to provide US$200 million over 4 years for the intensified push to eradicate polio. The BMGF has awarded the Rotary Foundation one of its largest-ever challenge grants of US$100 million, which Rotary will disburse over the course of 2008 and then match dollar-for-dollar over the subsequent three years. Bill Gates, co-chair of the BMGF, highlighted that, "The extraordinary dedication of Rotary members has played a critical role in bringing polio to the brink of eradication. Eradicating polio will be one of the most significant public health accomplishments in history, and we are committed to helping reach that goal." In announcing their contribution, Rotary and the BMGF called on other donors to join in their financial commitment to eradicate polio once and for all. More 
  
  

• Rotary & BMGF set an example for other donors to follow to ensure polio eradication is completed rapidly: Although the funds from the Rotary/Gates partnership will make a welcome dent in the global funding gap, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative still faces a shortfall of US$245 million for 2008 and will require additional funds through 2012. These funds are critical to ensure that transmission of wild poliovirus can be interrupted and certified. See up-to-date funding information. 
  
  

• Saudi Arabia announces polio vaccination requirements for visitors from polio-infected countries to protect pilgrims: In its annual health recommendations for the upcoming Hajj, the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia recommends that all travellers from the polio-endemic countries of Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan should be vaccinated against polio. This year, Sudan was added to the list: although it has reported only one case, many pilgrims from other polio-infected countries in Africa pass through Sudan on their way to Mecca. Travellers under the age of 15 from countries with recent cases of polio must also be vaccinated. The full list of health conditions for the pilgrimage to Mecca is accessible here.
  
  

• ACPE convenes on optimal use of latest tools and strategies and to examine research agenda: The Advisory Committee on Polio Eradication (ACPE) is the independent body providing technical guidance to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). At its 27-28 November meeting in Geneva, the ACPE's agenda includes the optimal use of monovalent vaccines as well as enhancement of international response to polio outbreaks. A major attraction of the meeting this year is a discussion on the research agenda of the GPEI, which develops products and informs policy for both eradication and the post-eradication era. Outcomes of the meeting will be made available next month.

Nigeria

• In 2007, 229 cases have been reported (80 type 1 and 149 type 3), representing a 77% decline in cases compared to the same period in 2006 and a 90% decline in type 1 polio alone.
  

• The Expert Review Committee on Polio Eradication in Nigeria met in Abuja on 8-9 November and put forward recommendations for supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) through May 2008. The recommendations include conducting local, targeted immunization activities in high-risk areas in December in response to confirmation of poliovirus, followed by nationwide Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) in January and February and sub-national campaigns in April and May. Full report.
  

• At the request of the Regional Director of the WHO Regional Office for Africa and the Ministry of Health of Nigeria, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has dispatched 19 consultants to Nigeria to support the planning, implementation and evaluation of campaigns in key areas. 
  

India

• In 2007, 392 cases have been reported (67 type 1 and 324 type 3), representing a decline of 26% compared to the same period last year. India has the highest number of cases of any single country in 2007. 
  

• This year, following aggressive use of monovalent oral polio vaccine against type 1 poliovirus (mOPV1), this type has declined by 87%. In Uttar Pradesh state, no type 1 cases have been reported in two months, despite the current high season for wild poliovirus transmission. No type 1 polio has been reported in more than 12 months in the core highest-risk districts of western Uttar Pradesh, the epicentre of last year's type 1 outbreak. 
  

• To counter the increase in type 3 cases, states are continuing to intersperse mOPV1 and monovalent OPV type 3 (mOPV3) during vaccination campaigns. 

Pakistan and Afghanistan

• In 2007, 17 cases have been reported in Pakistan (9 type 1 and 8 type 3) – a 50% decline over the same period last year – and 12 cases in Afghanistan (4 type 1 and 8 type 3) – a 60% decline over the same time in 2006. Cases are primarily restricted to southern Afghanistan and the shared transmission zone in northern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. No type 1 polio has been reported in Afghanistan since June.
  

• In Pakistan, at a 9 November meeting chaired by the Federal Secretary of Health, the Government of Pakistan confirmed it will finance the procurement of 40 million doses of OPV for SIAs in the first half of 2008, and that it is working on the modalities to provide additional OPV funding for the second half of 2008 and also 2009-2010. 
  

• On 29 October, then-Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz convened a meeting in the capital city of all District Nazims and Provincial Chief Secretaries to congratulate all districts which have been free of polio for more than two years. "Pakistan has made tremendous progress towards polio eradication," he said, "and it is important to acknowledge the leadership and commitment of all districts."
  

• Afghanistan and Pakistan continue to 'fine-tune' SIA strategies, focusing in particular on the frequency of rounds and choice of vaccines – mOPV1 or mOPV3 – for specific areas on both sides of the border. Insecurity in key border areas and in southern Afghanistan continues to be the primary challenge. 

Re-infected countries

• Angola: in Angola, where 8 cases have been reported this year – the most recent in July, efforts continue to reduce sub-national surveillance gaps.
  

• Chad & Sudan: in 2007, 12 cases have been reported in Chad and one case in Sudan. Chad is affected by three separate transmission chains, in different areas of the country. Chad is synchronizing its outbreak response activities, both with Sudan in the east, and with Nigeria and Niger in the west. 
  

• Democratic Republic of the Congo: in 2007, the polio outbreak following a fourth importation is continuing to affect Orientale Province. 36 cases have been reported this year, the highest number of cases of all the re-infected countries. The ongoing outbreak is facilitated by the difficulty of conducting high-quality campaigns in the area – polio eradication teams are exploring the necessary operational and logistics improvements. The December-January SIAs are planned to be held along the Congo River, where communities are at higher risk. 
  

• Myanmar: A total of 5 SIAs have taken place since the most recent case, in May.
  

• Niger: in Niger, 9 cases have been reported in 2007. Niger continues to be at high-risk of repeated importations from neighbouring northern Nigeria.