Challenges of Maintaining Polio-free Status of the European Region

Background. The European region, certified as polio free in 2002, had recent wild poliovirus (WPV) introductions, resulting in a major outbreak in Central Asian countries and Russia in 2010 and in current widespread WPV type 1 circulation in Israel, which endangered the polio-free status of the regi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2014-11, Vol.210 (suppl_1), p.S194-S207
Main Authors: Khetsuriani, Nino, Pfeifer, Dina, Deshevoi, Sergei, Gavrilin, Eugene, Shefer, Abigail, Butler, Robb, Jankovic, Dragan, Spataru, Roman, Emiroglu, Nedret, Martin, Rebecca
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Child
Child, Preschool
Communicable Disease Control - economics
Communicable Disease Control - methods
Communicable Disease Control - organization & administration
Countries
Disease Eradication - economics
Disease Eradication - organization & administration
Disease Outbreaks
Dosage
Enterovirus
Environmental surveillance
Europe - epidemiology
EUROPEAN REGION
Female
Health Policy
Health surveillance
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
International Cooperation
Male
Oral poliovirus vaccines
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis - epidemiology
Poliomyelitis - prevention & control
Poliomyelitis - transmission
Poliovirus
Poliovirus vaccines
Specimens
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background. The European region, certified as polio free in 2002, had recent wild poliovirus (WPV) introductions, resulting in a major outbreak in Central Asian countries and Russia in 2010 and in current widespread WPV type 1 circulation in Israel, which endangered the polio-free status of the region. Methods. We assessed the data on the major determinants of poliovirus transmission risk (population immunity, surveillance, and outbreak preparedness) and reviewed current threats and measures implemented in response to recent WPV introductions. Results. Despite high regional vaccination coverage and functioning surveillance, several countries in the region are at high or intermediate risk of poliovirus transmission. Coverage remains suboptimal in some countries, subnational geographic areas, and population groups, and surveillance (acute flaccid paralysis, enterovirus, and environmental) needs further strengthening. Supplementary immunization activities, which were instrumental in the rapid interruption of WPV1 circulation in 2010, should be implemented in high-risk countries to close population immunity gaps. National polio outbreak preparedness plans need strengthening. Immunization efforts to interrupt WPV transmission in Israel should continue. Conclusions. The European region has successfully maintained its polio-free status since 2002, but numerous challenges remain. Staying polio free will require continued coordinated efforts, political commitment and financial support from all countries.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/jiu096