Mozambique has reported its first case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) since 1992. According to a statement issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus could be linked to a similar strain that circulated in Pakistan in 2019. to the confirmed case malawiin February of this year.
As a result of continuous monitoring of the disease, the Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN) has confirmed that a child in Changara district, Tête province, Mozambique, experienced paralysis from wild poliovirus type 1 late March.
The statement notes that while the detection of a second case of WPV1 in South-East Africa is concerning, it is not unexpected after Malawi’s detection in February, thus emphasizing the importance for all countries to prioritize immunization of children against poliomyelitis.
The detection of another case of wild poliovirus in Africa is very worrying, although not surprising given the recent outbreak in Malawi. However, it shows how dangerous this virus is and how fast it can spread.
– Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa
Poliomyelitis is an acutely infectious and contagious viral disease that attacks the spinal cord and causes irreversible paralysis in children. Wild polioviruses are viruses that occur naturally in the community and are usually spread when feces from an infected person contaminates water or food.
The last time Mozambique recorded a case of wild polio was in 1992. In addition, in August 2020, Africa was declared free of indigenous wild poliovirus due to the fact that there were no new cases of polio on the continent during the previous four years.
Although the East African region bordering Yemen has recently been most affected by an outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), vaccination campaigns are maintained in response to the outbreak, including the use of a new oral vaccine.
According to a release issued by the WHO in March, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe would be part of mass immunization campaigns against wild poliovirus type 1, in which 23 million children under the age of five would be immunized in response to the outbreak in Malawi. Mozambique completed two mass vaccination campaigns involving 4.2 million children.
The WHO calls on the world population to immunize children under five years of age in order to mitigate the risk of contracting wild poliomyelitis type 1, a disease with no cure:
Poliomyelitis is highly infectious and mainly affects children under five years of age. There is no cure for polio and it can only be prevented through immunization. Children around the world remain at risk of contracting wild polio type 1 as long as the virus is not eradicated in the last remaining areas where it still circulates.
– Statement issued by the WHO
Source: Okchicas
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