Attaining the Balance between Wild Poliovirus Eradication and Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Control

Emmanuel Ebuka Elebesunu,Confidence Nmesoma Ubani

doi:10.23937/2474-3658/1510237

Emmanuel Ebuka Elebesunu, Confidence Nmesoma Ubani

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.23937/2474-3658/1510237

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Abstract

Poliomyelitis is one of the leading causes of paralysis among children under five years of age, and has been a major public health threat until recent times when high success rates were attained in poliovirus elimination through massive vaccination campaigns in various regions worldwide. In the course of vaccination, a new trend of vaccine-derived poliovirus occurred, due to genetic reversions in the live attenuated oral polio vaccine that resulted in the emergence of virulent forms.

Highlights

In past times, Poliomyelitis has been a major public health threat worldwide as one of the leading causes of paralysis among children under five years of age
Over the past couple of decades, there have been massive worldwide vaccination campaigns to end the wild polio outbreaks, with great success rates recorded across the globe, amounting to a worldwide drop in the prevalence of polio cases by 99% since its first peak in 1988 [3] when the disease was prevalent in over 125 countries worldwide, to about 20 endemic countries in 2000, and just two countries with Wild Poliovirus (WPV) cases in 2021 [4]
The Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) is known to have certain types such as monovalent OPV, bivalent OPV and trivalent OPV, which are based on the 3 serotypes of wild poliovirus; type 1, type 2 and type 3 [7]

Summary

Introduction

Poliomyelitis has been a major public health threat worldwide as one of the leading causes of paralysis among children under five years of age. No lasting cure has been developed against this disease and due to its epidemic prone nature, various countries and regions of the world have had a fair share of massive polio outbreaks, especially in Africa and some parts of South-East Asia, where the virus spreads quickly via faeces when adequate personal and environmental hygiene is not maintained [2].

Results

Conclusion