The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) announced today at the fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum that Saudi Arabia has pledged a substantial funding commitment of $500 million toward the global fight against polio. This contribution marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to eradicate the disease worldwide.
Former Saudi Health Minister Abdullah Al Rabeeah, MD, expressed the Kingdom's pride in participating in this critical initiative. "The world is on the path to eradicating polio once and for all, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is proud to be part of this global initiative," he stated in a GPEI press release. The funds are earmarked to protect vulnerable children today, ensuring future generations live free from this preventable disease.
The allocated funds will be instrumental in vaccinating 370 million children annually, targeting the stoppage of wild-type virus transmission in Pakistan and Afghanistan and addressing vaccine-derived virus outbreaks in African countries and conflict zones. The initiative underscores the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to protect against outbreaks, as evidenced by the polio case reported in Gaza last year, the first in 25 years.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, JD, emphasized the fragility of the global eradication effort's gains if vaccination rates drop. "With support from committed partners like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we can better reach every child with life-saving vaccination and end polio, once and for all," she stated.
Since the founding of the GPEI in 1988, polio cases worldwide have decreased by over 99%, showcasing the program's significant impact and the importance of continued international support.
A recent report by Public Health Ontario reveals a concerning increase in the incidence of carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPOs) in Ontario hospitals. The survey indicates that the number of patients either infected or colonized with CPOs doubled from 560 in 2022 to 1,229 in 2023.
Data showed a significant rise in resistance to third-generation cephalosporins among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, as well as increased resistance to ciprofloxacin among E. coli isolates. The highest resistance levels to ciprofloxacin reached 22.3% in 2023.
Conversely, the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) saw a 17.5% decrease. The positivity rate for Clostridioides difficile also declined, while the incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci remained stable. Candida auris incidence was rare, with only three cases reported in 2023.
The epidemiological data from Ontario highlights the critical need for continued surveillance and informed recommendations to prevent the spread of antimicrobial-resistant organisms (AROs). Identifying regional variations in organism incidence can guide local infection control policies effectively.
A study from Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University reports a significant rise in macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MRMp) cases among hospitalized children in Ohio following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study analyzed data from September 2023 to September 2024, finding an uptick in cases, with 2,000 cases reported in just four months compared to 1,350 cases from January 2012 to January 2019. The positivity rate was highest among children aged 6 to 10 years.
While MRMp rates remain low, they are trending upward, highlighting the need for vigilant surveillance to manage infections effectively and monitor antimicrobial resistance trends.
Indiana's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported the first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Posey County. A 2.5-year-old white-tailed buck tested positive for the disease, less than a year after Indiana's first detection.
The DNR plans enhanced surveillance in Posey County and surrounding areas during the 2025-2026 deer hunting season to assess the disease's prevalence. Although CWD is not known to infect humans, there are concerns about its potential health risks, similar to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease).
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against consuming meat from infected animals, as cooking temperatures do not deactivate the prions responsible for CWD.
