There were three new cases of children infected with the wild polio virus, all in Afghanistan, bringing our total for the year to 15 cases, 10 in Afghanistan and 5 in Pakistan. This is still significantly below the 33 cases at this point last year. With only a little more than a month to go before the close of this year, we can remain hopeful that we will have a 50% reduction in cases for 2017. 
However, the incidents of vaccine derived polio (cases of polio that develop when the virus in the vaccine reverts to virulence) are sharply up. Last year there were 5 cases while this year there have been 80, 10 in the Congo and 70 in Syria. According to the World Health Organization this is due to vulnerable, under-immunized populations in either remote geographical areas or where military conflict is occurring. As the End Polio fight moves toward using injections rather than the oral vaccine, these cases should drop.
Last year was a great year for Polio Plus donations in our District. Overall, individuals and clubs donated $70,462 toward End Polio Now! And 15 of our clubs donated at least $1,500 thus earning a certificate of appreciation from The Rotary Foundation. These clubs are: Boothbay Harbor, Bridgton-Lake Region, Damariscotta-Newcastle, Durham Great Bay, Exeter, Hampton, Kittery, Portland Sunrise, Portsmouth, River Valley (Greater Rumford Area), Saco Bay, Sanford-Springvale, Seacoast Portsmouth, South Portland-Cape Elizabeth, and York. Congratulations! District officers will be visiting these clubs personally to present their certificates. Let’s try this year to have even more clubs eligible for this award.