26 January 2007

Polio update

In 2006, there were a total of 1,912 cases of wild type polio confirmed worldwide [1]. Ninety-four percent of these cases occurred in the four countries that remain endemic for polio: Nigeria (1,077 cases), India (643 cases), Pakistan (39 cases) and Afghanistan (31 cases) [2]. The remaining cases occurred in polio re-infected countries where outbreaks have stopped or declined.

Nigeria

In 2006, northern Nigeria accounted for 56% of the global cases of polio compared to 42% in 2005. However, as a result of vaccination campaigns, routine immunisation coverage has increased and during the latter half of 2006, disease burden decreased. Three states: Kano, Katsino and Jigwa, have been classified as ‘very high risk’ and further eradication programmes will be concentrated in these areas.

India

In 2006, India accounted for 33% of all global polio cases compared to only 3% in 2005. Large scale vaccination campaigns have been scheduled during 2007, targeting children less than three years of age in the highest risk districts of western Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states.

Afghanistan and Pakistan

Large-scale population movements between Afghanistan and Pakistan have created difficulties for recent vaccination campaigns. Cross-border transmission of polio between the two countries is sustained. A technical consultation held in December 2006 addressed this issue and strategies to improve access to all populations are to be implemented.

Re-infected countries

Nine of the 25 countries that were considered polio-free prior to 2003, and became re-infected since that time, reported cases during the second half of 2006. Re-infected countries accounted for 6% of global cases in 2006 compared to 60% during 2005 [2].

In addition to the endemic countries of Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Nigeria, outbreak response activities during 2007 will focus on high risk polio outbreak areas in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Ethiopia and Bangladesh.

Advice for travellers

Travellers visiting polio risk countries should ensure that their polio vaccination schedule is up to date. Travellers whose last dose of polio vaccine was more than ten years ago should receive a booster.

References

1. Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Wild poliovirus weekly update. 17 January 2007 [accessed 26 January 2007] Available at http://www.polioeradication.org/casecount.asp

2. Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Monthly situation report. 16 January 2007 [accessed 26 January 2007] Available at http://www.polioeradication.org/content/general/

current_monthly_sitrep.asp

Links

NaTHNaC poliomyelitis information sheet

http://www.NaTHNaC.org/travel/factsheets/polio1.htm

Global Polio Erodaication Initiative

http://www.polioeradication.org