WHO: Sudan to Respond to New Emergence of Variant Poliovirus in Red Sea State
The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in Sudan is responding to a new emergence of variant poliovirus type 2 detected in Port Sudan by launching a polio vaccination campaign in April 2024. This variant was found in wastewater samples collected from September 2023 to January 2024. The FMOH, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), has conducted field investigations and risk assessments to gauge the virus's circulation extent. Preparations for the campaign are underway in several states, with a differentiated approach for others as per conditions. This development comes after Sudan's previous outbreak in October 2022, where 10.3 million doses of oral polio vaccine were distributed in a nationwide campaign. Despite challenges like ongoing conflict disrupting vaccination efforts, surveillance for poliovirus has been strengthened to promptly detect any virus presence. The FMOH's commitment, alongside WHO and UNICEF's support, emphasizes the importance of vaccination campaigns to protect children from polio amid challenging circumstances and strained health systems. Read the full article to learn more about Sudan's response to the variant poliovirus and the importance of vaccination campaigns in global health initiatives.