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CARIBBEAN
EPIDEMIOLOGY CENTRE (CAREC)
Pan American
Health Organization
Pan American Sanitary Bureau, Regional Office of the
World Health
Organization
16-18 Jamaica Boulevard, Federation Park,
P.O. Box 164, Port of Spain, Trinidad, W.I. |
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December 6, 2000
Outbreak
of Poliomyelitis in the
island of Hispaniola
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An
outbreak of poliomyelitis, currently affecting the Dominican Republic
and Haiti, has been reported by the Division of Vaccines and Immunisation
of the Pan American Health Organization on December 4, 2000. Since July
12, 2000, a total of 3 laboratory-confirmed cases have been identified
in the Dominican Republic. An additional 16 persons with Acute Flaccid
Paralysis (AFP) are now under investigation in that country. In Haiti,
a single laboratory-confirmed case has been reported to date.
The virus identified is an unusual derivative of the Sabin type 1 oral
poliovirus vaccine (OPV). It has the characteristics of wild poliovirus
type 1, both in terms of neurovirulence and transmissibility. In order to control the circulation of OPV-derived
viruses, PAHO recommends the use of the same strategy which is required
to control wild poliovirus circulation: achieving and maintaining high
vaccination coverage.
In the light of the occurrence of this
outbreak in a Caribbean island, CAREC Member Countries are being reminded
of the importance of aggressively investigating all Acute Flaccid Paralysis
(AFP) cases, in accordance with Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI)
Guidelines and the CAREC Public Health Surveillance Manual.
Travelers to the Dominican Republic and
Haiti, who are not adequately immunised, must be considered at risk of
acquiring Poliomyelitis, and should make certain they are fully immunised
against polio.
For additional information, you can access: www.paho.org
Dr. Merle J. Lewis
Manager
Epidemiology
Division, CAREC
