WHO Declares Africa Free of Wild Poliovirus

Africa has recorded a remarkable achievement yesterday, August 25, 2020, as the independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for Polio Eradication has officially declared that the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region is free of wild poliovirus after no cases were recorded for four years in the region.

Here’s the statement of Professor Rose Gana Fomban Leke, ARCC Chairperson.

“Today is a historic day for Africa. The African Regional Certification Commission for Polio eradication (ARCC) is pleased to announce that the Region has successfully met the certification criteria for wild polio eradication, with no cases of the wild poliovirus reported in the Region for four years.”

Also, this marks the eradication of the second virus from the face of the continent since smallpox 40 years ago according to Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

Dr. Moeti said in her statement that the eradication of poliovirus is a momentous milestone for Africa that future generations of African children can live free of wild polio.

“This is a momentous milestone for Africa. Now future generations of African children can live free of wild polio.”

Dr. Moeti added that the eradication of poliovirus was achieved through the leadership and commitment of governments, communities, global polio eradication partners, and philanthropists.

 “This historic achievement was only possible thanks to the leadership and commitment of governments, communities, global polio eradication partners and philanthropists. I pay special tribute to the frontline health workers and vaccinators, some of whom lost their lives, for this noble cause.”

What is Poliovirus?

WHO defined Polio or Poliomyelitis as a highly infectious viral disease that largely affects children under 5 years of age.
Furthermore, poliovirus is transmitted from person to person that spreads mainly through a fecal-oral route or, less frequently, through contaminated water or food, and multiplies in the intestines, from where it can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis.

According to the WHO Africa, poliovirus can be prevented through the administration of a simple and effective vaccine while there is no cure for it. And to protect children from polio paralysis every country is in the process of rapidly boosting the immunity levels of children.

3 Strains of Wild Poliovirus

According to WHO, there are three individual and immunologically distinct wild poliovirus stains which are Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1), Wild Poliovirus Type 2 (WPV2), and Wild Poliovirus Type 3 (WPV3). All of the stains are identical that they cause irreversible paralysis or death.

However, these three stains are three separate viruses and must be eradicated individually because of genetic and virologic differences.

In addition, according to the 18th report of the Independent Monitoring Board which was published in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) website, the only two countries now which wild poliovirus is endemic are Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Polio Case in 1996 in Africa

In 1996, poliovirus at that time has paralyzed an estimated 75,000 children in the African continent every year.  And since 1996, polio eradication efforts have saved approximately 180,000 lives and prevented 1.8 Million children from a life-long paralysis.

Last Case of Wild Poliovirus in the Region

According to the World Health Organization Africa, the last case of wild poliovirus recorded in the region was detected in Nigeria last 2016.

Furthermore, Dr. Moeti stated that to prevent the resurgence of the wild poliovirus and to address the continued threat of the vaccine-derived polio everyone must be vigilant and keep up the vaccination rates.

As it’s declared that the WHO African Region is free of wild poliovirus, 16 countries in the region are currently experiencing Circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks. And this can occur in under-immunized communities according to the WHO African Region.

The Coordinator of WHO Polio Eradication Programme in the African Region, Dr. Pascal Mkanda, said that they can sustain the gains, post-certification, and eliminate cVDPV2 through the innovations and expertise that the polio program has established.

Source: WHO African Region Facebook Page, WHO Facebook Page, WHO African Region Africa Eradicates Wild Poliovirus, WHO Three Wild Poliovirus Strains, 18th report of the Independent Monitoring Board, WHO Poliomyelitis