Potential for international spread of wild poliovirus via travelers

Potential for international spread of wild poliovirus via travelers

BACKGROUND The endgame of polio eradication is hampered by the international spread of poliovirus via travelers. In response to ongoing importations of poliovirus into polio-free countries, on 5 May 2014, WHO's Director-General declared the international spread of wild poliovirus a public health emergency of international concern. Our objective was to develop a mathematical model to estimate th...

Vaccinations of International Travelers

Alarm of Circulating Wild Poliovirus and Of Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus in Middle East Countries as a Potential Risk for Re-Emerging of Polio in Iran

     Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious viral disease which is mainly transmitted via contaminated food and drinking water by human feces, especially in situations of poor hygiene and sanitation (1). This disease is caused by 3 types of wild poliovirus (WPV) (types 1, 2 and 3), and immunity against one type does not create immunity against other types. In our country according National Immuni...

Note from the editors: WHO declares international spread of wild poliovirus a public health emergency of international concern.

The declaration followed an assessment of the poliovirus situation in 2014 as of 26 April and included updates from countries affected, namely Afghanistan, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Israel, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and the Syrian Arab Republic. It concluded that the current situation required coordinated international response because this situation could result in failure to era...

A Statistical Model of the International Spread of Wild Poliovirus in Africa Used to Predict and Prevent Outbreaks

BACKGROUND Outbreaks of poliomyelitis in African countries that were previously free of wild-type poliovirus cost the Global Polio Eradication Initiative US$850 million during 2003-2009, and have limited the ability of the program to focus on endemic countries. A quantitative understanding of the factors that predict the distribution and timing of outbreaks will enable their prevention and faci...