Health authorities are raising alarms over a surge in polio outbreaks across multiple African countries. The outbreaks, predominantly caused by vaccine-derived poliovirus strains, are posing new challenges to efforts aimed at eradicating the disease from the continent. Countries such as Chad, Sudan, and Ethiopia have reported increasing cases, prompting international health organizations to intensify their response.
Polio, a highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus, primarily affects young children and can lead to paralysis or even death. While the virus was once on the verge of eradication, recent outbreaks are complicating efforts to achieve that goal.
The outbreaks are linked to circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV), a rare strain that can emerge in under-immunized populations from the weakened virus used in the oral polio vaccine (OPV). When OPV-vaccinated individuals shed the weakened virus in their stools, it can mutate over time and cause outbreaks if it circulates in areas with low vaccination coverage.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have expressed concern over the resurgence, as Africa was declared free of wild poliovirus in 2020. However, the persistence of vaccine-derived polio outbreaks threatens to reverse progress, especially in regions with poor healthcare infrastructure and limited vaccination efforts.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, urged countries to strengthen routine immunization campaigns to prevent further spread. “Every polio case is a reminder that we need to intensify our efforts to vaccinate every child and improve surveillance systems,” she said during a virtual press briefing.
International health agencies are collaborating with affected countries to roll out emergency vaccination campaigns. These campaigns aim to rapidly increase vaccination coverage, particularly in remote and conflict-affected regions where health access is limited.
Despite these efforts, experts caution that vaccine-derived poliovirus remains a complex challenge, and sustained vaccination efforts are crucial to preventing future outbreaks. The resurgence of polio also highlights the importance of maintaining strong health systems, especially in regions that have successfully eliminated wild poliovirus.
Authorities are urging communities to participate in vaccination efforts to protect children from the debilitating effects of polio.
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