Burundi declares polio emergency

BUJUMBURA, Burundi

Burundi has declared a national public health emergency after polio was detected in a 4-year-old and two other children who had been in contact with the child.

The polio outbreak is Burundi's first in more than 30 years. The landlocked African country is preparing a vaccination campaign targeting eligible children, from newborns to 7-year-olds. It will be ready in a few weeks.

In addition to the children, health officials found five polio samples in its surveillance of wastewater, confirming the presence of circulating poliovirus type 2. Early detection is critical in containing an outbreak of the disease.

Type 2 infections can occur when the weakened strain of the virus contained in the oral polio vaccine circulates among under-immunized populations for long periods. The highly infectious disease is also spread through contaminated water and food or contact with an infected person.

Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa, said the detection shows the effectiveness of disease surveillance in the East African country.

“Polio is highly contagious and rapid action is essential to protect children through effective immunization,” said Moeti.

“We support national efforts to scale up polio vaccination so that no child is left behind and at risk of suffering the debilitating effects of the disease.”

The Burundian government declared the detection of the virus a national public health emergency, and announced plans to roll out a polio vaccination campaign in the coming weeks targeting children aged 0-7 years.

Circulating poliovirus type 2 infections can occur after the weakened strain of virus contained in oral polio vaccine circulates among under-immunized populations for long periods of time. It is the most common form of polio in Africa, according to the WHO.