YEMEN POLIO UPDATE: 179 CASES, "A MAJOR EPIDEMIC,"

UNCLAS SANAA 001508 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO AMED SUBJECT: YEMEN POLIO UPDATE: 179 CASES, "A MAJOR EPIDEMIC," SAYS WHO REF: SANAA 1304 On May 31 UN officials announced that the number of polio cases in Yemen has risen to 179, including 71 new cases in less than a week. A vaccination campaign was launched on May 30 and should bring the outbreak under control, says the UN. Dr. David Heyman, the World Health Organization's polio chief, said the agency had anticipated a jump in cases. The WHO called the Yemen outbreak a major epidemic on May 25, when it said the number of polio cases had risen to 108. It is investigating hundreds of more suspected cases. Krajeski