National Poliomyelitis Response Plan for New Zealand
Date of publication: May 2009
Summary of publication
Worldwide, the number of counted polio cases reached its lowest level of 483 cases in 2001. Since 2001 eradication has proven difficult in a small number of countries, with the number of counted polio cases fluctuating since 2001, peaking at 1,997 cases in 2006. In 2008, 18 countries experienced 1,655 cases; fourteen countries in Africa and four in Asia. There are four remaining polio-endemic countries; Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Nigeria (801) and India (559) accounted for 82 percent of cases in 2008.
The last case of wild poliovirus in New Zealand was in 1977, and the Western Pacific region has been declared polio-free since 2000. Nevertheless a risk exists of an imported case, as happened in Australia in 2007, when an Australian citizen travelled to visit family in Pakistan and came back to Australia with the virus
This plan sets out the response in New Zealand to the first case of imported wild-virus polio. In New Zealand the three-dose polio vaccination rate is estimated to be 88%. Given this level of immunisation coverage it is unlikely poliovirus would spread significantly if it came to New Zealand. Nevertheless, we wish to be ready with a response that is prompt, effective, and based on available evidence should this unlikely event occur.
|
Publishing information
Date of publication: May 2009
ISBN 978-0-478-31928-6 (online)
HP number: 4772
Citation: Ministry of Health 2009. National Poliomyelitis Response Plan for New Zealand.Wellington: Ministry of Health. |
|