Polio Bulletin
2024 Issue No. 1 - Week 1 (as of 2 January 2024)
Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 (“the road map”) sets explicit targets for the elimination of onchocerciasis by 2030, including eliminating the need for mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin in at least... one focus in 34 countries, in more than 50% of the population in at least 16 countries, and in the entire endemic population in at least 12 countries. The road map also targets interruption of onchocercal transmission in 12 countries by 2030. Achieving these targets and milestones will require a number of critical actions. These include establishing a well-coordinated global partnership to connect stakeholders and existing partnerships at all levels in order to improve coordination and collaboration, accelerate technical progress, implement a harmonized research agenda and enhance service delivery.
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Preliminary data from Member States indicate that the number of cholera cases reported in 2023 as of 15 December has surpassed that of 2022, with over 667 000 cases and 4000 deaths. These figures must be interpreted with caution given the varying surveillance systems and capacity across countries, w...hich means that 2023 data are not directly comparable to reports from previous years.
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Цей кишеньковий довідник призначений для використання лікарями, медсестрами та іншими медичними працівниками, відповідальними за надання допомоги дітям і підліт...кам на первинному рівні медичної допомоги. У ньому резюмовано рекомендації щодо лікування та направлення дітей і підлітків із поширеними скаргами й захворюваннями. Він також містить інформацію, що дозволить медикам первинної ланки координувати процес надання безперервної допомоги дітям та підліткам із довгостроковими захворюваннями, якими займаються спеціалісти
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Первичная медико-санитарная помощь – структурный компонент всеобщего охвата услугами здравоохранения и гарант качественного медицинского обслуживания, доступн...ого всем. Необходимо обеспечить непрерывный цикл медицинской помощи детям и подросткам на уровне местных сообществ. К сожалению, качество оказываемых услуг не всегда
соответствует стандартам: не все медицинские работники располагают знаниями, ресурсами и поддержкой, необходимыми для воплощения лечебных стратегий, опирающихся на фактические данные и отвечающих интересам ребенка или подростка.
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The pathway to strengthen multisectoral collaboration at the human-animal-environmental interface (HAI) aims to improve health security through One Health implementation. It outlines strategic guides and tools developed to support Member States through different steps of the HAI pathway.
Fires, explosions and volcanic eruptions can damage and contaminate food and water due to heat, smoke, fumes and chemicals. These flyers include tips to reduce food safety risks during a fire incident for households, food suppliers, vendors, food industry inspectors and workers.
After a flood, food that has been in contact with flood-water may have become unsafe for human consumption. These flyers include tips to reduce food safety risks in the event of a flood for households,
Natural disasters and emergencies frequently cause power outages that can compromise the quality and safety of food. These flyers include tips to reduce food safety risks during a power outage for households, food suppliers, vendors, food industry inspectors and workers.
Postnatal care is essential for all women, their babies, and families during the first few weeks after birth.
Yet, coverage and quality of postnatal care remains suboptimal. We invite those who advocate for improved health and health service experiences for women, newborns, parents, and families to... join efforts for increasing the quality of postnatal care, so that every woman and every newborn receives the care they need to survive and thrive.
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infografías en anexo web
Advanced HIV disease (defined in persons living with HIV with a CD4 cell count of <200cells/mm3 or presenting with a WHO Stage 3/4 AIDS-defining illness) poses a challenge to many countries globally and is responsible for significant mortality and morbidity among people living with HIV. In 2017, WHO... recommended a package of care for the prevention and management of advanced HIV disease. The package was composed of screening tests, diagnostics, prophylaxis, rapid antiretroviral therarpy initiation and enhanced adherence counselling.
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This document provides detailed guidance on laboratory testing for suspected diphtheria cases during significant outbreaks or in low-resource settings. It aims to supplement and build on other existing WHO guidance documents on surveillance standards, diagnostics and research on Corynebacterium by p...roviding key considerations for laboratories that allow the rationalization and optimization of testing during outbreaks. The recommendations given here have been prepared by WHO in consultation with, and reviewed by, global experts with experience in laboratory analysis of Corynebacterium species and in outbreak settings, or with expertise in developing new technologies for diphtheria research and diagnosis. Unless otherwise stated, the considerations provided apply to diphtheria outbreaks caused by toxin-producing C. diphtheriae with a classical respiratory diphtheria presentation.
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Las escuelas juegan un papel fundamental a la hora de crear entornos seguros y enriquecedores que aseguren a los estudiantes los cimientos para desarrollarse, aprender y convertirse en ciudadanos sanos, instruidos y comprometidos
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is impacting our health, economies and development. Up to 5.2 million people may die because of resistant bacterial infections across the Western Pacific Region from 2020-2030. Childbirth, surgery, cancer treatment and other interventions will become impossibly d...angerous if bacterial infections no longer respond to available antibiotics.
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The cholera outbreak in the WHO African Region has affected 17 countries over the last two years. The are six countries categorised to be in acute crisis 1 (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe). The southern region of the continen...t now in the rainy season with outbreaks now resurging. The increase in rainfall levels is now increasing floods in communities and landslides with increased for outbreaks in countries not reporting new confirmed cases. The seasonality of cholera outbreaks are issues for countries to consider and there is need to enhance preparedness and readiness, heighten surveillance and institute preventive and control measures in communities and around border crossings to prevent and mitigate cross border transmission.
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WHO has published the first-ever guidance on the clinical management of diphtheria. The only previously available guidance was an operational protocol. The new guidance followed the rigorous process for developing guidance at WHO.
It addresses the use of Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT) in the treatmen...t of diphtheria. There is a worldwide shortage of DAT and evidence based recommendations on the use of DAT were requested by many Member States.
The guidance also includes new recommendations on antibiotics. In patients with suspected or confirmed diphtheria, WHO recommends using macrolide antibiotics (azithromycin, erythromycin) rather than penicillin antibiotics.
This clinical practice guideline has been rapidly developed recognizing the global increase in diphtheria outbreaks. Outbreaks of diphtheria in Nigeria, Guinea and neighbouring countries in 2023 have highlighted the urgent need for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of diphtheria. Given the sporadic nature of outbreaks, many clinicians in the affected regions have never managed acute diphtheria and its related complications. Diphtheria remains a neglected disease and vaccination is the top priority. At the same time, for patients with diphtheria, access to antibiotics, DAT and supportive care can be lifesaving.
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A sanitary inspection is a simple, on-site evaluation (traditionally using a checklist) to help identify and support the management of priority risk factors that may lead to contamination of a drinking-water supply. Sanitary inspections are a well-established and widely-applied practice. They can su...pport water safety planning, and in some contexts, may be a simplified alternative to water safety plans.
This publication presents the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) sanitary inspection packages. These packages update the sanitary inspection forms in WHO’s 1997 Guidelines for drinking-water quality. Volume 3: surveillance and control of community supplies. With more than 25 years of practical experience with the application of sanitary inspections, these packages have been developed from a comprehensive evidence review and established good practices.
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Diphtheria is caused by Corynebacterium species, mostly by toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae and rarely by toxin-producing strains of C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis. The most common type of diphtheria is classic respiratory diphtheria, whereby the exotoxin produced characteristicall...y causes the formation of a pseudomembrane in the upper respiratory tract and damages other organs, usually the myocardium and peripheral nerves. Acute respiratory obstruction, acute systemic toxicity, myocarditis and neurologic complications are the usual causes of death. The infection can also affect the skin (cutaneous diphtheria). More rarely, it can affect mucous membranes at other non-respiratory sites, such as genitalia and conjunctiva.
C. diphtheriae is transmitted from person to person by intimate respiratory and direct contact; in contrast, C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis are zoonotic infections, not transmitted person-to-person. The incubation period of C. diphtheriae is two to five days (range 1– 10 days). A person is infectious as long as virulent bacteria are present in respiratory secretions, usually two weeks without antibiotics, and seldom more than six weeks. In rare cases, chronic carriers may shed organisms for six months or more. Skin lesions are often chronic and infectious for longer periods. Effective antibiotic therapy (penicillin or erythromycin) promptly terminates shedding in about one or two days.
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