VACCINE-DERIVED POLIO IN MEGHALAYA

Why in the news?

  • A –12 months-old baby in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district examined high quality for polio.
  • The case is assessed as “vaccine-derived,” in keeping with Union health ministry officials.
  • This case does now not threaten India’s polio-loose repute, performed in

Understanding Vaccine-Derived Polio:

  • Vaccine-derived polio stems from the weakened stay poliovirus within the oral polio vaccine (OPV).
  • Although normally safe, OPV can once in a while cause infections in youngsters with vulnerable immune structures.
  • The virus may flow into, regain its strength, and result in excessive infections, specially in immune compromised children.

Recent Cases in India:

India changed into declared polio-unfastened in 2014 after correctly preventing wild polio infections for three years. However, vaccine-derived polio instances were said, such as an eleven-month-antique baby in Maharashtra in 2013 and any other in Kerala last month. Despite those cases, India’s polio-free reputation stays intact, as it’s miles described by the absence of wild poliovirus, not vaccine-derived traces.

source:gigadocs
Vaccine-Derived Polio: Key Points

  • Definition: Vaccine-derived polio is a rare circumstance where the weakened pressure of poliovirus in the oral polio vaccine (OPV) mutates and regains the capacity to motive paralysis.
  • Target Group: Polio ordinarily affects kids underneath five years of age.
  • Role of OPV: The OPV has been crucial in controlling and doing away with polio in lots of regions.
  • Mutation Risk: In rare instances, the attenuated virus in OPV can mutate, reverting to a form that could purpose paralysis.

Why Vaccine-Derived Polio Occurs?

  • Low Immunisation Coverage: Weakened OPV virus can circulate and mutate in regions with low vaccination rates.
  • Poor Sanitation: The virus spreads through the faecal-oral course, making terrible sanitation a danger element.
  • Mechanism: The weakened OPV virus can also regain virulence in below-immunised populations, leading to cVDPV outbreaks.

Mitigation Strategies:

  • High Immunisation Coverage: Ensures herd immunity, decreasing virus move.
  • Switching to IPV: Eliminates VDPV chance, although it’s more high priced and less powerful for community-level immunity.
  • Enhanced Surveillance: Regular monitoring and speedy response save you outbreaks.

Measures Taken to Eradicate Polio:

Global:

  • Global Polio Eradication Initiative (1988): Launched by  WHO, Rotary International, CDC, and UNICEF.
  • World Polio Day (twenty fourth October): Raises cognizance and urges worldwide vigilance.

India:

  • Pulse Polio Programme: Nationwide immunisation marketing campaign to ensure all children below 5 get hold of polio drops.
  • Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0: Focuses on high-danger areas to boom immunisation coverage.
  • Universal Immunization Programme (UIP, 1985): Aims to growth coverage, improve service best, and make sure vaccine availability.