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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Particle Agglutination Method for Poliovirus Identification
Published on: April 20, 2011
National laboratory inventories for wild poliovirus containment--Western Pacific region, 2008
Abstract:
In the future, when wild poliovirus (WPV) transmission is interrupted worldwide, facilities holding WPV materials will represent the only remaining repository of the virus. Maintaining the number of such facilities at a minimum and at an appropriate biosafety standard (laboratory containment) reduces the risk for a facility-associated reintroduction of WPV. In May 1999, the World Health Assembly (WHA) urged all member states to begin the process leading to laboratory containment of WPV. The World Health Organization (WHO) global action plan for laboratory containment of WPV issued in 1999 indicated a staged approach that begins with a national survey of all biomedical facilities (Phase I); the purpose of the survey is to alert institutions and facilities to the need for containment, encourage reduction of WPV materials, and develop a national inventory of facilities holding such materials. The survey and inventory provide a facility database for use in all subsequent steps toward global poliovirus containment. In May 2008, WHA urged all WHO member states to complete Phase I activities outlined in the WHO Global Action Plan for Laboratory Containment of Wild Polioviruses. In the WHO Western Pacific Region (WPR), Phase I surveys of 77,260 laboratories in the 37 countries and areas of WPR were conducted during 1999--2008. A total of 45 laboratories were identified as holding WPV materials in 2008. This report describes completion of Phase I containment activities by WPR countries, and updates a previous report on Phase I completion in the European Region and global progress.
Insights
Global efforts to contain wild poliovirus (WPV) involve surveying facilities holding WPV materials. The Western Pacific Region completed Phase I containment, identifying 45 laboratories with WPV, crucial for preventing future outbreaks.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Virology
- Biosafety
Background:
- Wild poliovirus (WPV) containment is critical post-eradication to prevent reintroduction from remaining repositories.
- The World Health Assembly (WHA) has urged member states to implement laboratory containment of WPV since 1999.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) developed a phased action plan for global poliovirus containment, starting with Phase I surveys.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the completion of Phase I laboratory containment activities in the WHO Western Pacific Region (WPR).
- To update on global progress and previous findings in the European Region regarding WPV containment.
- To provide a database of facilities holding WPV materials for subsequent containment steps.
Main Methods:
- Conducted Phase I surveys of 77,260 laboratories across 37 countries and areas in the WPR between 1999 and 2008.
- Identified and inventoried institutions and facilities possessing WPV materials.
- Alerted institutions to containment needs and encouraged reduction of WPV stocks.
Main Results:
- Phase I containment activities were completed by WPR countries.
- A total of 45 laboratories in the WPR were identified as holding WPV materials as of 2008.
- This survey established a crucial database for ongoing global poliovirus containment efforts.
Conclusions:
- The Western Pacific Region has successfully completed the initial phase of laboratory containment for wild poliovirus.
- The identification of 45 WPV-holding laboratories is a key step towards minimizing risks associated with WPV repositories.
- Continued progress in Phase I completion globally is essential for achieving ultimate poliovirus containment.
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