Spread of Polio to Ethiopia
Released: March 23, 2005
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) continues to monitor the
global polio situation, including recent reports of human polio infection
in Ethiopia.
Two cases of polio have emerged in Ethiopia, in the Northern Tigray
region bordering Sudan. The cases are the first to appear in Ethiopia
since January 2001. Laboratory results have confirmed the strain to be
genetically linked to polio-virus circulating in Sudan, which initially
originated from Nigeria before spreading to several other African countries.
Ethiopia is the fourteenth African country to be infected with polio.
Emergency immunization activities have been developed by the World
Health Organization, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and UNICEF in order
to prevent further spread of polio in Ethiopia.
Global Polio Situation Background
As of March 15, 2005, a total of 1,263 cases of polio were reported
globally for 2004. This figure represents a 61% increase over the 784
cases reported in 2003. The increase is and is attributed to a decrease
in immunization activity in sub-Saharan Africa.
In November 2004, the World Health Organization reported that, in 2004,
sub-Saharan Africa experienced epidemic poliomyelitis when, from August
2003 to July 2004, the state of Kano, Nigeria, halted immunization against
the disease, and some neighbouring countries had low routine immunization
coverage. As a result, several African countries (Benin, Chad, Burkina
Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana,
Guinea, Mali, Togo, Sudan and Botswana in southern Africa ) that had
been polio free, reported imported cases of polio - all linked to wild
polio-virus circulating in Northern Nigeria. Polio has since become
re-established (that is, continued circulation for more than 6 months)
in four of these countries - Sudan, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Burkina
Faso.
Worldwide, polio remains endemic (constantly present) in six countries.
Of the six countries, Nigeria reported 789 cases, India 136 cases, Pakistan
53 cases, Niger 25 cases, Afghanistan 4 cases and Egypt 1 case.
To halt polio transmission by the end of 2005, the Global Polio Eradication
Initiative has outlined an intensified plan based largely on Synchronized
National Immunization Days. Neighbouring countries, reporting cases of
polio, will coordinate their immunization activities and immunize every
child under the age of 5 regardless of previous immunization status.
SNIDs are conducted in two rounds, one month apart, to ensure that population
immunity is sufficiently high to stop any further transmission of wild
poliovirus and to protect against further importations.
Sources: Global Polio Eradication Initiative,
World Health Organization (WHO)
Recommendations
The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends that Canadian
international travellers contact a physician or travel medicine
clinic prior to departure for an individual risk assessment. Based
on travellers' current health status, previous immunization history
and anticipated travel itinerary, their need for immunizations
including polio can be assessed.
For Canadians travelling to countries where poliomyelitis occurs,
primary immunization of children and, if indicated, primary immunization
of adults or a booster dose for adults, are recommended in accordance
with the recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on
Immunization (NACI). |
For additional information:
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