Global polio eradication: Where are we in Europe and what next?

Global polio eradication: Where are we in Europe and what next? Vaccine. 2017 May 03;: Authors: Celentano LP, Carrillo-Santisteve P, O'Connor P, Danielsson N, Huseynov S, Derrough T, Adel Ali K, Butler R, Greco D Abstract The world was never so close to reach the polio eradication: only 37 cases notified in 2016 in only three countries, but the game is not yet at the end. The risk of polio outbreaks in the EU is smaller than it has ever been in the past, but it is not so small that we can ignore it. The EU MS must remain alert and plan and prepare for managing polio events or outbreaks because of the possible dire consequences. The IPV only vaccination schedule universally applied in EU has achieved satisfactory coverage, but constantly leaving small accumulating pockets of susceptible individuals. Moreover the IPV only schedule is not an absolute barrier against poliovirus silent transmission as demonstrated in the recent Israel outbreak. The availability of annually revised S.O.P. from WHO GPEI on the identification and response of a polio event, without local poliovirus transmission or a polio outbreak with sustained transmission, helps and challenge EU countries to update their polio national preparedness plans. The EU/EEA area, in fact, is a peculiar area regarding the polio risk both for its vaccination policy, the large polio vaccines manufactures and the constant immigration from areas at polio high risk, but also EU include ...
Source: Vaccine - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Vaccine Source Type: research