Ask the expert about Syria’s polio outbreak

Cautious optimism in the air

20150109_Syria
A child receives the polio vaccine at a Health Care Centre in Damascus, Syria. © UNICEF Syria/2013/ Omar Sanadiki

Syria is fast approaching a year without a case of polio, following major outbreak response activities in the country, even in the midst of a severe humanitarian crisis, and across the region. Health administrators and workers in all parts of Syria, across conflict lines, are fully focused on making sure that every case of polio is detected. As long as polio is endemic in Pakistan, which has major migration and trade relations with the Middle East, countries in the region remain vigilant about polio transmission and plan to continue mass vaccination activities to protect their children.

Find out more about the current situation in Syria by following a live interview with Chris Maher, Manager for Polio Eradication and Emergency Support , at 1400 Eastern Standard Time (1900 GMT). The video will also be available afterwards at the same link.

Ask a question to the reporter ahead of or during the interview by tweeting @devindthorpe.

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