Clinical Updates
16 August 2005
Polio Update Indonesia, Angola and Yemen
Indonesia:
On 12 August 2005 the World Health Organization confirmed fourteen new wild poliomyelitis cases in Indonesia [1].
The new cases were reported from the provinces of West Java, Banten, Lampung and Jakarta, and bring the total number during this outbreak to 219. Ten of the new cases are from districts previously reporting cases; however 4 cases are from newly infected districts, North Jakarta (Jakarta province), Cirebon (West Java province) and Cilacap (Central Java). Five Indonesian provinces: Banten, West Java, Jakarta and Central Java on the island of Java and Lampung on the island of Sumatra, are now affected by this outbreak.
National Immunization Days are scheduled for 30 August and 27 September which will target 24.4 million children less than 5 years of age throughout Indonesia.
Angola:
Two new cases of polio have been reported from Angola. As of 8 August 2005 the total number of cases in Angola is four [2]. The first case was reported from Luanda on 24 June 2005 and was with a type-1 polio virus originating from India.
The new cases are from Luanda and Lunda Sul. Lunda Sul is close to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) border. In response to a risk of spread of polio into DR Congo, a mop-up immunisation campaign is being considered for September to coincide with the campaign scheduled in Angola.
Yemen:
The number of confirmed cases of polio in Yemen as of 8 August 2005 is 400. Although this is currently the highest number of cases in the world, epidemiological evidence suggests that the outbreak is being bought under control as the total number of weekly cases continues to decline [2].
These polio outbreaks that have originated from imported wild type polio virus underline the importance of stopping transmission of polio in endemic countries. Until this occurs, all countries remain at risk for introduction of polio.
Travellers to polio risk countries should ensure that their polio vaccination is up-to-date. Travellers whose last dose of polio vaccine was more than ten years previously should receive a booster.
References
1. World Health Organization Regional Office of South East Asia. Outbreak of polio in Indonesia. Updated 12 August 2005. Available at www.searo.who.int/en/section1226.asp
2. World Health Organization Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Monthly situation reports. 8 August 2005. Available at http://www.polioeradication.org/content/general/current_
Links
World Health Organization Polio Eradication Initiative. http://www.polioeradication.org
NaTHNaC Poliomyelitis Information Sheet
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