Zimbabwe’s government has initiated an emergency polio vaccination campaign in response to the confirmed outbreak of a Type 2 poliovirus variant, as announced by the Health and Child Care Deputy Minister, Sleiman Timios Kwidini. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of this variant in environmental samples and a 10-year-old child, marking a significant health concern for the nation.
The detected variant, identified in samples from sewage sites in the Harare Metropolitan Province and a child in Sanyati district, has propelled the country into action, given the proximity to recent outbreaks in Mozambique and Malawi. Zimbabwe, which had conducted four rounds of vaccination from October 2022 to October 2023, is now intensifying its efforts to contain this new threat.
According to a report by Newsday, the circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (CVDPV) arises from mutations of the virus used in the oral polio vaccine, posing risks of community transmission. The Deputy Minister stressed the importance of a multi-sectoral response to effectively combat the spread of the disease.
Following the outbreak’s detection, Zimbabwe reported the situation to the World Health Organization and implemented immediate emergency response measures. These include the activation of a polio incident management system, extensive investigations, and the enhancement of polio surveillance across the country.
The emergency vaccination campaign, targeting children under 10 years, is a crucial step in bolstering protection against this poliovirus variant, which poses a higher risk due to the cessation of vaccines targeting this type globally in 2015. The campaign will consist of two rounds of the novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) scheduled for late February to March, aiming to vaccinate over 4 million children in each round.
With the vaccines already distributed across provinces, the Health Ministry is urging parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive the vaccination. This campaign is part of a broader regional effort, with neighboring countries also reporting outbreaks and participating in coordinated vaccination efforts to mitigate the spread of poliovirus.
