Polio outbreak response, Yemen

Bull World Health Organ. 2023 Dec 1;101(12):808-812. doi: 10.2471/BLT.23.290122. Epub 2023 Oct 12.ABSTRACTPROBLEM: A decrease in vaccine coverage in conflict-affected areas has placed Yemen at higher risk of polio outbreaks caused by vaccine-derived poliovirus strains.APPROACH: In response to polio outbreaks, the Yemeni health ministry and partners initiated multiple vaccination campaigns to deliver vaccines to children. We also implemented several measures to enhance communication, education, health promotion and hygiene, especially in camps for internally displaced people.LOCAL SETTING: In 2009, Yemen achieved polio-free status and maintained it until 2019. However, the ongoing political conflict since 2015, coupled with challenges in delivering the polio vaccine to conflict-affected areas, resulted in two polio outbreaks: 35 cases caused by vaccine-derived poliovirus strain 1 between 2019 and 2021, and 230 cases due to vaccine-derived poliovirus strain 2 between November 2021 and December 2022.RELEVANT CHANGES: In response to the first outbreak, by the end of 2020, we vaccinated 7.2 million children through nationwide vaccination campaigns, except in Sa'ada governorate due to a ban by the authorities. By the end of 2021, 3 800 313 children younger than 5 years had received polio vaccines. For the second outbreak, by the end of 2022, 4 463 389 vaccines had been given to children younger than 10 years, and 1 217 423 to those younger than 5 years.LESSONS LEARNT: Vaccination c...
Source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Source Type: research