polio eradication

Question 1

Why is polio one of the diseases which can be eradicated

Answer 1

polio only affects humans, and there is no animal reservoir, an effective, inexpensive vaccines exists (OPV & IPV), immunity is life-long, there are no long-term carriers (this point isn’t completely true), and the virus cannot survive for long outside the body.

Question 2

which is the only disease to be fully eradicated

Answer 2

small pox

Question 3

The strategy developed by WHO to eradicate polio

Answer 3

routine immunization with OPV,additional doses of oral poliovaccine during National Immunization Days,enhanced surveillance for all cases of acute flaccid paralysis and wild–type poliovirus, mopping-up immunization activities.

Question 4

national immunization days

Answer 4

This supplementary immunization is intended to complement - not replace - routine immunization. The aim of mass campaigns is to interrupt circulation of poliovirus by immunizing every child under 5 years of age with two doses of OPV, regardless of previous immunization status.

Question 5

Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance

Answer 5

1. AFP case identification: health workers must report every case in any child under 15 years. 2. stool specimen collection from AFP cases: to determine if poliovirus is present. 2 samples taken 24-48 hrs apart. 3. virus isolation/ identification in the laboratory: inoculate specimines in cell culture and isolate enteroviruses, identifying serotypes of polio.

Question 6

When is poliovirus highest in the stool

Answer 6

during the first two weeks after onset of paralysis

Question 7

Methods used to distinguish btw wild type and vaccine related poliovirus from stool

Answer 7

ELISA or PCR followed by DNA sequencing

Question 8

what does mopping up consist of

Answer 8

When very few/no cases of polio occur, This involves door-to-door immunization (“mopping up”) in high-risk districts where the virus is known or suspected still to be circulating. Priority districts include those where polio has occurred over the previous three years and where access to health care is difficult. Other criteria include overcrowding, high population mobility, poor sanitation, and low routine immunization coverage.