Polio Outbreak in Sudan

Highlights

• In August 2022, Sudan closed the 2020 poliovirus outbreak that affected 58 children in 15 out of 18 states.
• On 16 December 2022, Sudan declared a new polio outbreak after a variant type 2 poliovirus (cVDPV2) was confirmed in a four-year old boy in Kereinik locality, West Darfur state. 
• Poliomyelitis, also known as polio, is a highly infectious disease that can lead to permanent paralysis or death. 
• Polio can strike at any age but mainly affects children under 5 years of age. 
• Polio is spread through person-to-person contact, mainly through the fecal-oral route, or through contaminated water or food.
• Polio invades the nervous system causing irreversible paralysis in a matter of hours. 
• Polio is often common in areas with poor hygiene practices, including poor handwashing and ingestion of food or water contaminated with feces. Infants and young children who are not toilet-trained are often most at risk.

There is no cure for polio, but unlike most diseases, polio can be prevented through vaccination. Polio vaccines – both the injectable vaccine and the oral drops – are safe and effective.