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polioviruses (cVDPVs). The type 2 com- WHO launches resistance week ponent of oral polio accounts for 40% of VAPP cases, and more than 90% of cVDPV cases. By contrast, wild poliovirus type 2 has not been detected anywhere since 1999 and, in September, the Global Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication declared this strain globally eradicated. The SAGE cautioned, however, that more work needs to be done ahead of the April 2016 switch. A critical step is that the global community ensure poliovirus type 2 is appropriately contained so that it is not released into the environment, inad- vertently or deliberately, to again cause paralysis or death in humans. To do this, each country should implement the measures that are out- lined in the WHO global action plan for containing polioviruses that was endorsed by the ministries of health of all 194 WHO Member States in May. http://www.polioeradication.org/ WHO Financing WHO The first World Antibiotic Awareness Week was launched last month by the World Health Organization to promote best practices among the general public, health workers, Representatives from Member States policy-makers and the agriculture sector and avoid the further emergence and spread and other major financial contribu- of antibiotic resistance. The awareness week will run from 16 to 22 November every year. tors to the World Health Organization http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2015/world-antibiotic-awareness-week (WHO) gathered in Geneva last month to discuss how to ensure that the Orga- nization’s programmes are fully funded in the coming 2016–2017 biennium. switch Within those two weeks, countries They joined WHO’s Director- should remove all stocks of trivalent oral General Margaret Chan and other senior Each country and territory using the polio vaccine and confirm their removal WHO managers in reviewing the financ- trivalent oral polio vaccine (that protects to WHO, the experts said. ing outlook for 2016–2017, as well as against three types of the virus) should Global withdrawal of the type 2 some key priority areas such as WHO’s switch to the bivalent oral polio vac- polio virus component in the oral polio role in contributing to the Sustainable cine (that protects against two types of vaccine is a crucial part of the polio Development Goals, accountability and the virus) during the last two weeks of endgame strategy: WHO’s plan to wipe WHO emergency reform. April next year, a group of experts has out the disease. The Organization needs a total of concluded. It is the first phase of the planned US$ 4.4 billion – an increase compared The Strategic Advisory Group of removal of all oral polio , with with the 2014–2015 budget of US$ 3.977 Experts on (SAGE), the type 1 and type 3 components of the billion – to accomplish the work planned which advises WHO, said that the 149 vaccines to be removed after the global for the next two-year period. countries and seven territories using eradication of all wild poliovirus types Although WHO’s funding outlook the oral polio vaccine should step up has been certified. for 2016-2017 seems positive overall, their efforts to prepare for the globally Withdrawing oral polio vaccine is there are still a number of under-funded coordinated switch from trivalent oral crucial for eliminating very rare cases areas in 2016-2017 and the predictability polio vaccine to bivalent oral polio vac- of vaccine associated paralytic polio for 2018-2019 is very low, according to cine between 17 April and 1 May 2016. (VAPP) or circulating vaccine derived the programme budget web portal.

820 Bull World Health Organ 2015;93:820–821 | doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.15.011215 News

the United Nations Children’s Fund and http://www.emro.who.int/irq/iraq- Cover photo the United Nations Refugee Agency. news/who-mobilizes-510-000-doses-of- “The deteriorating security situ- oral--vaccine.html Farmers in Mongolia struggle with the ation in Iraq coupled with the dis- dzud, extremely cold winters in which ruption of public health services and Sierra Leone ends Ebola livestock die, as well as droughts in the increased population displacement summer. World leaders gather this month makes conditions favourable for trans- outbreak at the 2015 United Nations Climate mitting the disease,” said Dr William WHO announced on 7 November that Change Conference in Paris, France Perea, coordinator of the Control Ebola virus transmission has stopped to reach a deal on reducing carbon of Epidemic Diseases Unit at WHO emissions. in Sierra Leone. It said that 42 weeks headquarters. – two incubation cycles of the Ebola WHO delivered the 510 000 doses virus – had passed since the last person needed, donated 600 000 chlorine tablets confirmed to have Ebola virus disease and 15 inter-agency diarrhoeal diseases kits, tested negative for the second time. and sent epidemiologists and other experts The country has started a 90-day to the country to support the campaign. period of surveillance. If no cases are As of 1 November, the Iraqi Minis- reporting during that time, the country try of Health reported 2173 laboratory can be declared Ebola free. confirmed cholera cases from 16 of 19

Asian Development Bank/Eric Development Asian Sales “Since Sierra Leone recorded the governorates since the start of the out- first Ebola case in May 2014, a total of break in September. Two deaths have 8704 people were infected and 3589 have been reported. died, 221 of them healthcare workers, all It was the second time that such More than 10 700 cholera cases of whom we remember on this day,” said a meeting, known as the financing and 170 deaths had been reported in Dr Anders Nordström, WHO Represen- dialogue, has been held to improve the the WHO Eastern Mediterranean and tative in Sierra Leone. transparency, alignment, flexibility and African Regions as of 21 October. http://www.afro.who.int/en/sierra- predictability of WHO’s funding. To step up the response to prevent leone/press-materials/item/8139-who- http://extranet.who.int/program�- wider cholera outbreaks ahead of the commends-sierra-leone-for-stopping- mebudget/Biennium2016/Financing/ rainy season, WHO needs more than ebola-virus-transmission.html ■ http://extranet.who.int/programmebud- US$ 5 million in funds. get/Biennium2016/Financing Cholera is an acute enteric in- fection caused by the ingestion of Cholera in Iraq bacterium present Looking ahead in water or food contaminated with 25–30 January – WHO Executive Board A vaccine campaign was launched in faecal matter. Together with efforts meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. Iraq last month to immunize some to improve water quality, sanitation, 26 – 31 January – Prince Mahidol 250 000 displaced people and refugees and hygiene, vaccine has been proven Award Conference, Bangkok, across 13 of the country’s 19 governor- to significantly reduce the spread of Thailand. ates. cholera in high-risk areas. 7 April – World Health Day. The 2016 The first round of got The overall coverage of the first theme is diabetes. under way in the first week of November. round of the oral cholera in In early December, the second round of Iraq was 91% (227 000 immunized) of doses will be administered to complete the target population, displaced Iraqis vaccination in some 62 camps. and Syrian refugees. This was first ever The campaign was organized by the pre-emptive vaccination campaign with Ministry of Health with support from the oral cholera vaccine in camps for several international partners, including internally displaced people and refugees the World Health Organization (WHO), in Iraq.

SAGE: Request for nominations WHO is soliciting proposals for nominations for one current and several future vacancies on its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization. SAGE is the principal advisory group to WHO for vaccines and immunization. Members should have an outstanding record of achievement in their own field and an understanding of the immunization issues covered by the group. Nominations are solicited from all regions and should be submitted no later than 15 January 2016 following the instructions at: http://www.who.int/immunization/sage_nominations/en/ index.html

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