Cablegate: Nigeria: New Polio Case in Lagos

VZCZCXRO9184
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #2309 3301409
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251409Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4539
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0323
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC

UNCLAS ABUJA 002309

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR OES/IHA DANO WILUSZ
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USAID FOR GH/HIDN (ELLYN OGDEN & RICHARD GREENE)
AND AFR/SD MARY HARVEY
CDC FOR NCIRD/GID/DEEB SUE GERBER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KISL PGOV SOCI ECON KOCI EAID NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: NEW POLIO CASE IN LAGOS

REF: A. ABUJA 2275
B. ABUJA 1591
C. ABUJA 815

1. A World Health Organization (WHO) contact informed ESTHOff that a
positive test for a single Type I polio case was reported on
November 20-21 in Ali Mosho, a district within Lagos. The WHO
contact coordinates polio vaccine efforts in Nigeria and has
well-established ties to Nigerian public health officials.
Additional intratypic differentiation (ITD) of poliovirus testing is
being conducted to positively determine the type of polio the case
represents. Based on the result of this test, Nigerian
authorities are expected to craft and launch an emergency response
to vaccinate children in the Ali Mosho area and adjoining
neighborhoods in the next few days. The WHO contact noted that the
last polio case in Lagos was reported in 2006, almost three years
ago.

2. Comment: This new case is a worrisome development given the poor
state of sanitation facilities in Lagos. Though the next round of
integrated measles campaign for the south, which includes oral polio
vaccine (OPV), is scheduled for December 10-14 (reftel A), contacts
believe that the GON's immediate emergency response is on the right
track. The Mission will report on the ITD results and the GON's
emergency response. End Comment.

3. This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos.

SANDERS

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