Australian National Enterovirus Reference Laboratory annual report, 2016

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Virology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Australia maintains polio-free status via surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in children under 15, adhering to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
• The global withdrawal of Sabin poliovirus type 2 from oral polio vaccines in April 2016 marked the beginning of the polio endgame, emphasizing laboratory containment of poliovirus type 2 strains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on Australia's polio surveillance activities and outcomes in 2016.
• To assess the sensitivity of Australia's surveillance system against WHO performance criteria.
• To document the identification of non-polio enteroviruses in AFP cases.

Main Methods:

• Surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases in children under 15 years.
• Notification of AFP cases to the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit or Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance System.
• Virological investigation of faecal specimens by the National Enterovirus Reference Laboratory.

Main Results:

• No cases of poliomyelitis were reported in Australia in 2016.
• Australia reported 1.38 non-polio AFP cases per 100,000 children, meeting the WHO criterion for sensitive surveillance.
• Several non-polio enteroviruses, including coxsackievirus A6 and enterovirus D68, were identified in clinical specimens.

Conclusions:

• Australia's surveillance system effectively monitors for polio, meeting WHO sensitivity standards.
• The global polio endgame necessitates continued sensitive surveillance and laboratory containment efforts.
• The re-emergence of wild polio in Nigeria underscores the critical need for sustained global surveillance until eradication is certified.