Key highlights
Three (3) new cases of cVDPV2 were reported this week from three new districts: 1 case from Deir Ez-Zor district, Deir Ez-Zor governorate; 1 from Boukamal district, Deir Ez-Zor governorate; and 1 from Tadmour district, Homs governorate.
Five districts in three governorates are now infected.
The total number of cVDPV2 cases is 33 (this includes the previously reported 29 cases from Mayadeen district, Deir Ez-Zor governorate, and 1 case from Tell Abyad district, Raqqa governorate). All confirmed cases to date have had onset of paralysis before 11 July 2017.
Final lab results for an additional 9 poliovirus type-2 (PV2) isolates from Deir EzZor are pending.
Discussions around expanding the scope of the immunization response to include accessible areas of a Tadmour sub-district in Homs, bordering Deir Ez-Zor, will be held in light of the confirmation of the cases in this area.
Raqqa governorate commenced its first immunization round on 12 August (Raqqa and Thawra districts) and 13 August (Tell Abyad district). The immunization round aims to reach 120,000 children under five years of age. Preliminary information suggests the rounds are reaching children in all three districts.
Preparations continue for the second round in Deir Ez-Zor governorate, scheduled for 19-23 August. IPV for use in the second rounds in Deir Ez-Zor and Raqqa governorates has arrived in Damascus.
The total number of AFP cases detected in Deir Ez-Zor governorate since the beginning of 2017 is 113 (83 from Mayadeen, 11 from Deir Ez-Zor, and 19 from Boukamal districts). Raqqa governorate has reported 16 AFP cases (5 from Raqqa, 10 from Tell Abyad, and 1 from Thawra districts). Homs governorate has reported 26 AFP cases (11 from Homs city, 12 from Rastan, 1 from Tadmour and 2 from Talkalakh districts).
The Eradication and Outbreak Management Group (EOMG) has approved the release of additional doses of IPV to cover high risk population groups in northwest Syria, Turkey and Lebanon. Lebanon requested 144,000 doses and has begun to implement IPV campaigns across the country.