[Poliomyelitis in New Caledonia: epidemiological data, post-vaccinal seroconversion, prophylactic strategy]

After an outbreak in 1956, poliomyelitis appears to get a sporadic development. Consequently, it has not been a major medical concern. In 1982, 5 cases of paralytic manifestations due to a polio virus of type 1 underlined the relationship between this reappearance of the disease, some neglecting in mass vaccination and some deficiency in sanitary conditions of the surroundings. A serologic monitoring, complementary to that survey, has been conducted up to 1984. It has shown that, in a number of zones of the territory, a natural immunization has appeared quickly. This immunization is of the same type that in some underdeveloped tropical countries: at 6, 93,3% of the children present protective antibodies against 1 type of virus, 40% against 2 types and 6,7% against the 3 types. Vaccination with non-active vaccine, adopted because the risks of interference linked to the frequency of excretion of the enteroviruses, is efficient. After a primo-vaccination followed by a booster dose one year later, sero-conversion ranges from 95,3% to 100% for type 1, 83,3% to 96,5% for type 2, 75% to 84,9% for type 3. On the other hand, sero-conversion observed one month after the second vaccination appeared to be unsatisfactory to lighter the vaccinal time-table.