The Israeli public health response to wild poliovirus importation. Issue 10 (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kaliner, Ehud; Kopel, Eran; Anis, Emilia; Mendelson, Ella; Moran-Gilad, Jacob; Shulman, Lester M; Singer, Shepherd R; Manor, Yossi; Somekh, Eli; Rishpon, Shmuel; Leventhal, Alex; Rubin, Lisa; Tasher, Diana; Honovich, Mira; Moerman, Larisa; Shohat, Tamy; Bassal, Ravit; Sofer, Danit; Gdalevich, Michael; Lev, Boaz; Gamzu, Ronni; Grotto, Itamar
• Is Part Of: Lancet infectious diseases. Volume 15:Issue 10(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1236
• Page End: 1242
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Maladies infectieuses -- Périodiques; Infection -- Périodiques; Communicable diseases; Infection; Periodicals; 616.905
• DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(15)00064-X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-3099

Abstract

Summary: In 2013, a silent wild poliovirus type 1 importation and sustained transmission event occurred in southern Israel. With the aim of preventing clinical poliomyelitis and ensuring virus re-elimination, the public health response to the importation event included intensification of clinical and environmental surveillance activities, enhancement of vaccine coverage, and supplemental immunisation with a bivalent oral polio vaccine against wild poliovirus types 1 and 3. A national campaign launched in August, 2013, resulted in vaccination of 943 587 children younger than 10 years (79% of the eligible target population). Expanded environmental surveillance (roughly 80% population coverage) documented a gradual disappearance of wild poliovirus type 1 in the country from September, 2013, to April, 2014. No paralytic poliomyelitis case was detected. A prompt extensive and coordinated national public health response, implemented on the basis of evidence-based decision making, successfully contained this serious importation and sustained transmission event of wild poliovirus to Israel. On April 28, 2015, WHO officially declared Israel as a polio-free country.