Syria Announces Polio Detection in Deir ez-Zor, Launches Emergency Vaccination Campaign

Syria's Ministry of Health announced the registration of two polio cases in children in the Mayadeen area of Deir ez-Zor province during a joint press conference held in Damascus attended by Health Minister Mossab al-Ali, World Health Organization representative in Syria Caroline Clarinfelt, and UNICEF representative in Syria Meritxell Relano Arana.

Health Minister al-Ali affirmed that field teams began operations immediately upon confirmation of the two cases, and that the areas at highest risk were identified to reach unvaccinated children. He explained that the first campaign phase resulted in vaccinating more than 34,000 children under five years of age, including children who had not received any previous vaccinations, and called on families to bring their children to the nearest health center.

Clarinfelt noted that the World Health Organization is working alongside the Ministry of Health, highlighting that 14 years of war have left deep impacts on the Syrian people and its healthcare system. She added that the organization has launched with the ministry and UNICEF a "precise planning" operation to contain the outbreak as quickly as possible, emphasizing that vaccination is the primary means to halt transmission.

For her part, UNICEF representative Relano Arana said that the discovery of the two cases reaffirms the vital importance of strengthening immunization and delivering life-saving vaccines to every child.