Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Nigeria, January–December 2017

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

“…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 ). Although conflict might limit access to standard health facility–based surveillance, community-based surveillance has been effective in finding AFP cases, providing some assurance of the absence of poliovirus circulation in critical areas.…”

“…The four WPV1 cases that occurred in AFR in 2016 were reported from Borno state in Nigeria ( 4 ). Although no AFP cases or environmental isolates of WPV1 have been detected in Borno for >1 year, it is difficult to determine if transmission of WPV1 persists in pockets of the population where polio surveillance is infeasible or limited (e.g., in insurgent-controlled and inaccessible areas) ( 5 ). One cVDPV case was reported in AFR during 2016, a cVDPV type 2 (cVDPV2) case from Nigeria.…”

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

“…In Pakistan, continuing WPV1 transmission has been confirmed in multiple areas in 2018 by isolation from wastewater samples. In Nigeria, ongoing endemic WPV1 transmission was confirmed in 2016 ( 3 ); although WPV was not detected in 2017 or in 2018 to date, limitations in access for vaccination and surveillance in insurgent-held areas in northeastern Nigeria might permit continued undetected poliovirus transmission. Substantial progress toward polio eradication has continued in recent years; however, interruption of WPV transmission will require overcoming remaining challenges to reaching and vaccinating every missed child.…”

Australian National Enterovirus Reference Laboratory annual report, 2018

“…5 While Nigeria has not reported wild polio cases since August 2016, the country has not been declared poliofree due to inadequate surveillance in inaccessible regions with ongoing security issues. 6 Globally, only wild poliovirus serotype 1 was detected in 2018, with the last report of wild poliovirus type 3 in Nigeria in November 2012. 5 The global eradication of wild poliovirus type 2 was certified in September 2015, with the last detection reported in India in 1999.…”