Resurgence of Polio & the Regional Response

Resurgence of Polio & the Regional Response

1. Resurgence of Polio & the Regional Response Dr Hamid Jafari D irector Polio Eradication 1 4 October 2024 Dedication: In memory of Aidan O’Leary, Director, Polio Eradication, WHO HQ

2. Endemics Active cVDPV2 Outbreak High risk countries and areas Other EMR countries Countries out of EMR region CLASSIFICATION OF COUNTRIES Disputed territories Poliovirus Risks: Eastern Mediterranean Region

3. Wild poliovirus cases, 2024 Afghanistan and Pakistan *Data as of October 4, 2024 WPV1 Case Country Cases Afghanistan 22 Pakistan 28 Total 50 Endemic cluster of Pakistan likely eliminated Paralytic outbreak in vulnerable areas Widespread environmental detections, yet no paralytic polio outbreaks elsewhere Cessation of house-to-house vaccination in AFG Goal: stop transmission in 2025

4. Endemics Active cVDPV2 Outbreak High risk countries and areas Other EMR countries Countries out of EMR region CLASSIFICATION OF COUNTRIES Disputed territories cVDPV2 importations in and out of EMR, 2021-2024 Context: conflict, restricted access, low immunization Emergence outside of Region Emergence & Importations within Region Exportations from Region

5. 5 Sudan Closed 2020 outbreak New outbreak in Oct 2022 New emergence: Sep 23 Egypt 2021 imported outbreak closed nOPV2 related emergence August 2023 No detection since Dec 2023 Gaza (oPt) Importation from North Sinai detected in July Vaccination response implemented AFP ENV Chain of cVDPV2 outbreaks

6. 6 Uncontrolled cVDPV2 outbreak since 2021, multiple exportations 240 of 269 paralytic cases in the north Health Emergency Extension Response may be the way forward South stopped transmission with 4 successful campaigns , last case in Feb 2022 Year 2021 2022 2023 2024 AFP cVDPV2 66 162 8 33 AFP VDPV2 3 1 # Cases 69 162 9 33 cVDPV2 outbreak, Yemen

7. cVDPV2 Somalia Persistent transmission since 2017 Spillover to Kenya, Ethiopia & Northern Somalia Recent improvements in quality and in access 2022 =5 2023 = 8 2024 =3

8. Global Polio Eradication Strategy Extension 2022-26 to 2029 2031+ 2030 2029 2028 2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 WPV1 interruption End-2025 WPV1 certification End 2027 Goal 1 cVDPV2 interruption End 2026 cVDPV 2 certification End 2029 Goal 2 GPEI Budget

9. 9 New Approaches Regional response to regional threats Programme reset in Pakistan Redefining/remapping mobile groups Integrated delivery, humanitarian partners Expansion of environmental surveillance New lab technologies, rapid sequencing

10. Cessation of WPV feasible by end 2025 - peak performance, commitment, collaboration and access Strong Regional response, e.g. Gaza, to stop all outbreaks Political and financial commitments for HEER Prevention, high vigilance, preparedness by all 10 Call to Action

11. The Secretariat will be the main point of contact to work with Member States on developing success stories and materials that showcase each Member State’s actions that can be shared on social media platforms and used in this campaign in 2024 and beyond. Request to Member States: Make time at the EM 71 st Regional Committee meeting in Doha to engage with the polio exhibit, which will include an immersive virtual reality experience, pledging wall and opportunities to film your feedback on video.

12. 12 Thank You