March 18, 2023
The WHO and health authorities of Burundi have declared an outbreak poliovirus circulating type 2 (CVDPV 2) after confirming eight cases. This is the first such detection in more than three decades.
The cases were confirmed in a 4-year-old boy from the district of To father, in western Burundi, who had not received any polio vaccinations, as well as two other children who were contacts. In addition, five environmental monitoring wastewater samples confirmed the presence of circulating poliovirus type 2.
The Burundi government, which has declared detection of the virus a national Public Health Emergency, plans to implement a polio vaccination campaign in the coming weeks, with the goal of protecting all eligible children (ages 0-7) against the virus.
Circulating poliovirus type 2 is the most prevalent form of polio in Africa, and outbreaks of this type of poliovirus are the most reported in the region, with more than 400 cases reported in 14 countries in 2022. Circulating poliovirus type 2 infection can occur when the virus strain contained in the oral polio vaccine circulates among underimmunized populations for long periods.
Local risks Burundi
