Disease

Polio in Syria

On 17 October 2013, WHO received reports of a cluster of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases in the Syrian Arab Republic. This cluster of ‘hot’ AFP was detected in early October 2013 in Deir Al Zour province and is currently being investigated. Initial results from the national polio laboratory in Damascus indicate that two of the cases could be positive for polio – final results are awaited from the regional reference laboratory of the Eastern Mediterranean Region of WHO.

Wild poliovirus was last reported in Syria in 1999.

Cholera in Mexico - Update

The Ministry of Health in Mexico has reported 171 confirmed cases, including one death, of infection with Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa toxigenic between 9 September to 18 October 2013.

Legionnaires Disease in Alabama, USA

Health officials are investigating an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease apparently centred at a northwest Alabama nursing home.

Cholera in Nigeria

At least eight people have died and 61 hospitalised in Plateau state after an outbreak of cholera in a community where people displaced by conflict in neighbouring areas, live.