An outbreak of polio in Syria is spreading throughout the country, according to the World Health Organization is reporting.
The outbreak had been confined to the Deir Al Zour province in Syria, but the international health agency said Tuesday one case has been found in rural Damascus and another has been confirmed in Aleppo.
This is the first confirmation of widespread circulation of the virus, according to WHO. Officials plan to continue to monitor the outbreak through next year.
“It is anticipated that outbreak response will need to continue for at least six to eight months,” the agency said in a statement.
As of Nov. 26, a total of 17 cases of polio have been reported, including 15 in Deir Al Zour.
In early October, health officials reported a potential outbreak of the contagious virus after more than 20 children showed symptoms of the paralysis caused by the disease.