Posted by Dave Hurt on Apr 08, 2018
Are you an End Polio Crusader?
That is do you communicate Rotary's End Polio message and create awareness among fellow Rotary members and the community at large about Rotary's End Polio initiative and the importance if donating to End Polio Now? If so, you are a polio crusader.
 
Now meet a really bold End Polio Crusader, Jenna Buscemi (Rotary Club of Houston Energy Corridor, TX) and District 5890 DG Bill Palko (Rotary Club of Northshore, TX) who have died their hair (Jenna) and mustache (Bill) purple to raise awareness for Global Polio Eradication.  Jenna was featured in the March 2018 Rotarian magazine where she said she is used to the strange glances, and said "I'll say to them, I bet you're wondering about my hair, and then I'll give them my elevator speech about Rotary and the current facts about Polio.
 
How about a purple goatee? What do you think DG Chris McLucas?
 
 
Thank your Terry Ziegler of Rotary District 5890 for distributing the following report:
 
PolioPlus In Action - Polio workers join efforts to curb Lassa fever in Nigeria
Nigeria is currently experiencing its worst ever Lassa fever outbreak - and hundreds of Polio workers are being deployed to help respond. Thanks to their experience fighting Polio, these skilled health workers are able to rapidly support efforts to find and stop new cases of Lassa fever, demonstrating the significant strengths that Polio resources can bring to other health initiatives.
SYRIA, SOMALIA & DRC - No new cases of circulating vaccine-derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) were reported this week in Syria (last case reported on 9/20/17) leaving the total number of Syrian cases at 74 for 2017 and 0 for 2018.  No new cases were reported in DRC leaving their 2018 total at 3 (22 in 2017).  Somalia has detected the circulation of Vaccine-derived Poliovirus Type 2 but no Polio cases have been reported. 
 Do You Know? The role each of Rotary's Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Partners play?  The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest private funding source of the GPEI, having contributed over $2 billion to the fight against Polio. vaccine and manages its distribution.  They will match all Polio donations to Rotary $2 to $1 up to $50 million for 2018.  
Quote of the Day - "Often when you think your'e at the end of something, you're at the beginning of something else."   Fred Rogers - Author/Television Personality            
The Final Three Endemic Countries: 
Pakistan - One new Polio cases reported this week. One Polio case reported in 2018 - the most recent case was from the Balochistan Province with an onset of paralysis on 3/8/18.  Eight cases reported in 2017.  No new Polio-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week.  Another Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine campaign - synchronized with Afghanistan - is scheduled to start on 4/09/18.
Afghanistan - One new Polio case reported this week.  Seven Polio cases reported in 2018 - the most recent case was from the Kunar province with the onset of paralysis on 03/03/18.  Fourteen cases reported in 2017  Another Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine campaign - synchronized with a campaign in Pakistan - is scheduled to start 4/09/18.  No new Polio-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week.
 Nigeria - No new Polio cases have been reported in 2017 or 2018.   The most recent Polio case was reported on 8/20/16.  Nigeria has once again gone 1-3/4 years without a Wild Polio case.  
Advocate, Donate & Educate to END POLIO NOW & FOREVER!
17,400,000 Children Saved from the Paralysis of Polio Since 1988                                                                                       
 Total paralysis cases
Year-to-date 2018
 
LY to D 2017
Total
2017
 
Total
2016
Total
 2015
Globally
8
5
22
37
74
- in endemic countries:
8
5
22
37
74
- in post-endemic countries:
0
0
0
0
0
 Wild Polio cases reported this week:
Pakistan 1, Afghanistan 1, Nigeria 0   
 
2018 Polio Case Breakdown by Country (Green Numbers are 2017 Totals)
Endemic Countries – 1 Pakistan (2017-8), 7 Afghanistan (2017-14),
0 Nigeria (2017-0)