By Nelson Manneh
The Ministry of Health yesterday wrote to partners informing them that the Gambia has experienced another outbreak of a new strain of poliovirus (CVDPV) from the environmental surveillance site located in Banjul.
“It is with a deep sense of concern that my Ministry writes to inform you that the country has experienced another outbreak of a new strain of poliovirus CVDPV from the environmental surveillance site located at Banjul,” the Health Minister stated in a press release.
The press release stated that on 5th of February 2024, three environmental samples collected from Tallinding Daru Salam, Kotu Agua, and Banjul were sent for sequencing to the Regional Polio Laboratory in the Republic of Senegal.
“We received the results in May 2024 and the sample collected from the Banjul site was positive for CVDPV2.”
The press release further stated that sequencing results further showed that the virus detected in The Gambia is genetically linked to the virus currently circulating in Guinea Conakry.
“I therefore write to officially declare this polio outbreak and further count on your usual response to the outbreak,” Minister Samateh noted.
