Afghanistan experienced a “major setback” in its efforts to eradicate polio in 2014, after having made significant progress towards elimination of the disease the prior year, a new study reveals.
The number of reported polio cases in Afghanistan doubled in 2014 over 2013 figures, and the country’s routine immunization system remains weak and unable to reach recommended benchmarks in most regions, according to Dr. Chukwuma Mbaeyi of the Center for Global Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and coauthors. Afghanistan is one of the two remaining countries (the other being Pakistan) where indigenous wild poliovirus transmission has never been interrupted.
courtesy www.vaccines.mil
Afghanistan reported 28 wild polio virus cases in 2014, which is double that seen in 2013.
During 2014, a total of 28 wild polio virus (WPV1) cases were reported in Afghanistan, compared with 14 cases in 2013, while nine cases were reported during January‒August 2015, the same number as during the identical period in 2014. Childhood immunization efforts have been hampered by ongoing conflict and insecurity in the region, especially in parts of southern and eastern Afghanistan, as well as one province in the western region (MMWR. 2015 Oct. 23; 64[41]:1166-70).
The report says there is an urgent need to improve on the level of coordination and oversight of polio eradication activities in the country, particularly with respect to supplementary immunization, to eliminate poliovirus transmission in Afghanistan.
“Emergency operations centers (EOCs) need to be established at the national level and in critical regions without delay to improve overall coordination and oversight of polio eradication activities,” Dr. Mbaeyi and coauthors wrote. “The recently revised National Emergency Action Plan for polio eradication needs to be fully implemented, including detailed microplanning and enhanced monitoring and supervision of [supplementary immunization activities], as well as improved cross-border coordination with Pakistan.”
The researchers say improving the quality of SIAs in Afghanistan will require better preparation through proper staff training and detailed microplanning, and ensuring adequate monitoring and supervision during the course of immunization campaigns.
Read the entire report on the CDC website.
On Twitter @richpizzi