Ministry of health has issued a press release informing the public that the country has again experienced an outbreak of a new strain of poliovirus, cVDPV, from the Environmental surveillance site in Banjul. The release expressed a profound sense of concern.

“Three environmental samples were sent to the Regional Polio Laboratory in the Republic of Senegal for sequencing on February 5, 2024, from Tallinding Daru Salam, Kotu Agua Gambia, and Banjul.” The ministry reported that the sample collected from the Banjul site was positive for cVDPV 2 and that the results were received in May 2024.

It was further stated that the virus detected in The Gambia is genetically linked to the virus currently prevalent in Guinea Conakry, as evidenced by the sequencing results.

Consequently, the ministry has officially declared the polio pandemic and has requested the usual support of the public in order to address the situation.