Update on Wild Poliovirus Type 1 Outbreak - Southeastern Africa, 2021-2022

This report summarizes progress in the outbreak response since the initial report (5). During November 2021-December 2022, nine children and adolescents with paralytic polio caused by WPV1 were identified in southeastern Africa: one in Malawi and eight in Mozambique. Malawi, Mozambique, and three neighboring countries at high risk for WPV1 importation (Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) responded by increasing surveillance and organizing up to six rounds of national and subnational polio supplementary immunization activities (SIAs).* Although no cases of paralytic WPV1 infection have been reported in Malawi since November 2021 or in Mozambique since August 2022, undetected transmission might be ongoing because of poliovirus surveillance gaps and testing delays. Efforts to further enhance poliovirus surveillance sensitivity, improve SIA quality, and strengthen routine immunization are needed to ensure that WPV1 transmission has been interrupted within 12 months of the first case, thereby preserving the WHO African Region's WPV-free status.PMID:37053125 | DOI:10.15585/mmwr.mm7215a3

Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... - April 13, 2023 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Elizabeth Davlantes Sharon A Greene Farrell A Tobolowsky Oladayo Biya Eric Wiesen Fikru Abebe Mesfin B Weldetsadik Victor A Eboh Mike N Chisema Balbina da Concei ção Mário Florian Tinuga Patricia Mupeta Bobo Colline Koline Chigodo Ghanashyam Sethy Jan- Source Type: research