The Rotabay. Understanding the recent polio outbreaks THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF RUNAWAY BAY

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1 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF RUNAWAY BAY The Rotabay 7th August 2017 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF RUNAWAY BAY Meeting No 1468 Understanding the recent polio outbreaks Outbreaks of vaccine-derived polio have been reported this month in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Syria, according to the World Health Organization. At least 24 cases were identified in Syria and at least four in Congo. In both countries, health officials are working with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to respond immediately to the outbreaks with supplementary immunization activities and field investigations. To prevent the virus from spreading further, investigations and immunizations are also being strengthened in neighboring countries, the World Health Organization said. Despite the new cases, the push to eradicate polio is stronger than ever, with fewer cases reported so far this year than ever before. It also got a boost at the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, where donors pledged $1.2 billion for the effort. Vaccine-derived cases are rare, and they differ from wild cases. Here s what you need to know to understand these outbreaks. Q: What are the two kinds of polio cases? A: Wild cases of polio are caused by poliovirus that is circulating naturally in the environment. Vaccine-derived polioviruses are extremely rare and exist under specific circumstances. Oral polio vaccine contains live virus that is weakened so that it will prompt the body s immune response without causing paralysis. The vaccine is ingested, and the weakened virus replicates in the child s gut and is then excreted. In areas with poor sanitation, this excreted vaccine virus can spread to other children. This can actually be good because it then immunizes them. When the strain no longer finds susceptible children, it dies out. The problem occurs in areas of low vaccination coverage. There, such vaccine-derived strains of the virus can continue to circulate as long as they continue to find unvaccinated or otherwise susceptible children. While they continue to circulate, they mutate. Eventually, if they are allowed to circulate long enough at least 12 months they can mutate into strains that are strong enough to cause paralysis.

2 Q: Is the vaccine safe? A: Yes. The oral polio vaccine has reduced the number of polio cases by 99.9 percent since The risk posed by wild poliovirus is far greater than the risk of an outbreak caused by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus. Once wild polioviruses have been eradicated, use of oral vaccine will be stopped. Q: Are vaccine-derived cases common? Health workers work diligently to monitor children and test sewage samples for the polio virus. Photo by Miriam Doan A: Polio cases caused by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus are extremely rare. Wild poliovirus remains the far greater risk. Nevertheless, because of the small risk of vaccine-derived outbreaks, use of oral vaccine will be stopped when wild polioviruses have been eradicated. Q: Are wild cases common? A: Wild poliovirus occurs only in the countries where polio remains endemic: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Only six cases of polio caused by the wild virus have been reported so far in That s the lowest number of polio cases in history, with fewer cases reported in fewer areas of fewer countries than ever before. Q: How are polio cases detected? A: Polio surveillance has two parts: Doctors and health workers monitor children for the virus, and authorities test sewage samples from sewer systems or elsewhere, in areas that don t have adequate sanitation facilities. The detection of these most recent cases demonstrates that polio surveillance systems are functioning in both countries. Q: What is the science behind the vaccines? A: There are two types of vaccine: oral and inactivated-virus. The original oral vaccine protected against types 1, 2, and 3 of the virus. Type 2 wild poliovirus was eradicated in 1999 so the current vaccine contains only type 1 and type 3. This allows it to provide quicker and better protection against the two remaining types. The inactivated-virus vaccine, administered by injection, contains virus that is dead. Because the virus is dead, the vaccine cannot cause polio outbreaks. By Ryan Hyland and Teresa Schmedding

3 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL SOUTH PACIFIC AND PHILIPPINES OFFICE STASTICS As at 30 April 2017 July 2016 April 2017 Variation % Vari Districts. Clubs Worldwide 1,207,906 1,237,928 30, % ,615 Australia 29,194 29, % 21 1,107 New Zealand 8,457 8, % & Pacific Islands Philippines 23,109 25,728 2, % Total SPPO 60,760 63,532 2, % 37 2,265 OUR REGION IN REVIEW - Australian District - Zone 8 District Clubs Jul 16 Apr 17 Var Members Jul 16 Apr17 Var. %Var ,204 1, % ,273 1, % ,105 1, % ,278 1, % % ,074 1, % ,469 1, % ,127 1, % ,247 1, % ,522 1, % ,189 1, % ,565 1, % ,009 2, % ,066 1, % ,324 1, % ,778 1, % ,732 1, % ,418 2, % ,141 1, % ,375 1, % ,303 1, % Total ,194 29, % These statistics come from the website of the ROTARY INTERNATIONAL SOUTH PACIFIC AND PHILIPPINES OFFICE. They have been extracted from many other such statisiics relating to this office and make very interesting reading.

4 . Jottings from the Log of President Eric Lewis for the Rotary meeting of Monday 7th August 2017 Hi All, It was really nice to welcome back Dianne and Robert Davies from the Salvation Army to the club at our last meeting. Dianne and Robert gave us a final report on our efforts at the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show collecting for the Red Shield Appeal. In monetary terms the four day collecting effort wasn t a great success with only $960 collected at the show. However, Dianne was able to extract some additional donations which bumped up the final figure. It is interesting to note that the show was attended by a lot of very rich people looking to buy some very expensive boats, sadly however, there seemed to be very little to spare in the way of charitable donations!! Alan Guignon was also welcomed back to the club to talk about Surfers Paradise Rotary's 15th Race day event to be held on 11th September at the Gold Coast Turf Club Racecourse, Bundall. I have ed a copy of the 'flyer' to you all, hopefully we will be able to get a few tables together, it looks like being a really enjoyable and fun day. Our next joint club meeting will again be with the Surfers Club sometime in October, and will be held at the Bowls Club. It will again be a great opportunity to talk openly about our projects, goals and challenges and most importantly have a great fun night! Lea Rickwood our Area Governor, will be hosting the first 'Cluster' meeting for the Rotary year at her house on Sunday. I'll report back next week on outcomes and directions from the meeting. It will be a great opportunity for me to meet with all the new club presidents from our area for the first time. In fact, Lea will be our guest at our 7th August meeting, so we look forward to making her welcome again. August is a big month for the club, we have our signature event for the year on the 24th August. This year's Mental Health Symposium has again received great support from sponsors, expertly tracked down by Ken Lister et al. We expect this year to build on the reputation gained from previous successful symposiums. Just a reminder that this year's event is titled 'Australian Rotary Health Early Psychosis and Perinatal Mental Health Symposium.' Our last committee meeting will be this coming Thursday. We have always had great support from all our members on the day of the event, I expect this year will be the same. Ken will be briefing us in detail about what will be required, as we draw closer to the event date. Take care all. Eric

5 Secretary Bob Curtis reports on our last meeting, of the 31st July Hello All, Attendances were 16 members ( Laurie Buckley, Del Cole, Tony Coxen, Brian Deasy, Karl Frick, Michael George, Trevor Holzapfel, David Kerr, Eric Lewis, Ken Lister, Des Lovett, John Murtagh, Phil Smith, Wanda Tereba, Tom Turner and Santo Varapodio ), Visiting Rotarians were Gerard Dellis and Dennis from Avonhead NZ, Alan Guignon from Southport, and Captains Dianne and Robert Davies from the Salvation Army. Apologies were Bryan Connelly, John Cooke, Bob Curtis, Ken Edwards, Peter Fisk, Peter Foley, Graham Gordon, Brian Heaton, Sam O Connor, Keith Ranson, Greg Smith, and Paul Vertullo. I was unable to attend our excellent meeting so please all see President Eric s Pointy End for how it all went. Regards Bob At left: Captains Dianne and Robert Davies of the Salvation Armyat last weeks meeting presenting resident Eric Lewis with a Certificate of Appreciation for assistance given by our Rotary Club at the recent appeal at the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show.

6 Breaking News: Sam O Connor and Wanda Tereba have today reported that our nominee for selection to attend the National Youth Science Forum, has been successful. Congratulations Italia. We will feature this next week. Above; Itilia Malik Our successful noiminee to attend the NYSF this year. Left: The team

7 Photo Corner Above:: A sample of the work of paper cutting artist Maude White. A steady hand and a lot of patience is all that is required. Did I say ALL?.. Left: We have some beautiful sunsets over our own Broadwater. Maybe members would like to submit their own phots and we have a competition for Christmas. Here s one of mine to start things off. Please your own effort. The world we live in.

8 DIARY 7th August 2017 Venue/Time Guest Speaker/Topic Chair/Facilitator Intro.Speaker 7 Aug PP Bowls Club Lea Rickwood Trevor Holzapfel 6.00 for 6.30pm Assistant Governor 10 Aug Mental Health Symposium Committee meeting 14 Aug PP Bowls Club TBA Peter Foley 6.00 for 6.30pm 21 Aug PP Bowls Club Jennifer Ruby Brian Deasey 6.00 for 6.30pm Home Instead Senior Care 24 Aug Mental Health Symposium - Bond University - Details TBA 28 Aug PP Bowls Club Destiny Rescue Brian Heaton 6.00 for 6.30pm Ladies Night ( Possible Joint Meeting - TBA) 4 Sep PP Bowls Club TBA TBA 6 Sept (Wednesday) One Way Screw Event Harbourtown Details TBA 11 Sep PP Bowls Club TBA TBA 18 Sep PP Bowls Club Stuart Robert 6.00 for 6.30pm TBA 25 Sep PP Bowls Club Emma Moore - Project Mgr 6.00 for 6.30pm. FSG - Justice in the Park TBA SERGEANT S LIST 7th to 14th August th August Laurie Buckley Club Anniversary LAST MEETING ATTENDANCE 31st July 2017 Total Attendance; 16 See Secretary s Report for Details Club Members 11 Visiting Rotarians: 2 Gerard Dellis and Dennis from Avonhead NZ 1 Alan Guignon Southport Rotarian Paartners: Guest Speakers: 2 Captains Dianne and Robert Davies from the Salvation Army Apologies Bryan Connelly, John Cooke, Bob Curtis, Ken Edwards, Peter Fisk, Peter Foley, Graham Gordon, Brian Heaton, Sam O Connor, Keith Ranson, Greg Smith, and Paul Vertullo. All Correspondence to: The Secretary, The Rotary Club of Runaway Bay Inc., P.O. Box 8, Runaway Bay Qld., 4216, Australia. ; rotaryrunawaybay@gmail.com Meetings: Monday Evening (Public Holidays excluded), 6.30 for 6.30pm. to 8.00pm ( Dinner optional) Paradise Point Bowls Club, 22 Thrush Av., Paradise Point. Meeting Apologies: Advise Secretary Bob Curtis, Tel : robert.curtis2@bigpond.com Roster Changes/Absences: Contact Karl Frick, Tel : tmkwf@optusnet.com au BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Effetive 11th July President : Eric Lewis. Immediate.Past President ; Eric Lewis. Secretary ; Bob Curtis Treasurer; Tom Turnerr. President Elect; Club Service; Des Lovett. International Del Cole; Youth : Sam O Connor Vocational; Bryan Connelly. District Governor: Darrell Brown Assistant Governor ; Lea Rickwood The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Club and its office bearers. The Club does not warrant that any information shown in this publication is free from errors and omissions and suitable for the reader s intended use. Subject to any terms implied by law and which cannot be excluded, the Club accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by the reader as a result of any act, omission or misrepresentation in any information contained herein. Rotabay content, e.g. articles, photographs, articles, contributions and all other editorial matters should be addressed to The Editor.