Syria - Credit Wikipedia
# 7912
While not surprising, given the reports last week (see WHO: Reports Of Suspected Polio In Syria & ECDC Risk Assessment : Suspected Polio In Syria), this morning the BBC and Reuters are both reporting that the World Health Organization has announced positive poliovirus test results for 10 of the 22 AFD (acute flaccid paralysis) cases reported. Test results are pending for the remaining cases.
While 22 cases may not seem like a lot, the reality is that only about 1%-2% of those infected develop paralysis. Meaning that 22 AFP cases are simply the tip of a much larger viral iceberg, and could involve more than 2,000 additional infections.
I expect we’ll get a formal announcement from the World Health Organization later today, but for now we have this from the BBC:
Syria polio outbreak confirmed by WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 10 cases of polio in Syria - the first outbreak in the country in 14 years.
The UN body says a further 12 cases are still being investigated. Most of the 22 people who have been tested are babies and toddlers.
