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- Eight cases of circulating poliovirus type 2 detected in Burundi.
- WHO commended Burundi for its strong surveillance mechanism.
- It's the first outbreak in the country in over 30 years.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has commended Burundi's strong disease surveillance mechanism for the swift detection of an outbreak of circulating poliovirus type 2 (CVDPV 2), the first in the country in over 30 years.
According to WHO, a 4-year-old boy in the western Burundian area of Isale who was not immunised against polio, and two children contacts of his were all found to have the disease.
In addition, the presence of the circulating poliovirus type 2 was confirmed in five samples of wastewater from environmental surveillance.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said the organisation was supporting Burundi's national efforts to ramp up polio vaccination.
She added that a rapid response was required and Burundi had a strong surveillance system.
She said:
The vaccination drive will target children from birth to the age of 7. The vaccination will also be reinforced by further "epidemiological investigations, including risk assessments to determine the extent of the outbreak".
The most common form of polio in Africa is circulating poliovirus type 2, and outbreaks of this kind of poliovirus are the most common on the continent.
More than 400 cases were documented in 14 countries.
According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Burundi is classified by the International Health Regulations as a state infected with cVDPV2, with or without evidence of local transmission.
It is therefore subject to "temporary recommendations" issued by the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on polio eradication.
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
