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Australian National Enterovirus Reference Laboratory annual report, 2017
Jason A Roberts1, Linda K Hobday1, Aishah Ibrahim1
1National Enterovirus Reference Laboratory, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Doherty Institute, 792 Elizabeth St, Melbourne 3000, Victoria, Australia.
Communicable Diseases Intelligence (2018)
|April 18, 2020
Summary
Australia maintained its polio-free status in 2017 through robust surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in children. While no polio cases were reported, non-polio enteroviruses and a vaccine-derived poliovirus were detected, highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Australia maintains polio-free status through surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in children under 15, adhering to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
- AFP cases are reported to surveillance systems, with fecal specimens sent for virological investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on Australia's polio surveillance activities and findings in 2017.
- To assess the sensitivity of Australia's AFP surveillance system against WHO criteria.
- To identify enteroviruses circulating in Australia.
Main Methods:
- Clinical surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in children.
- Virological investigation of fecal specimens from AFP cases.
- Environmental surveillance for poliovirus in sewage.
Main Results:
- No cases of poliomyelitis were reported in 2017.
- Australia reported 1.33 non-polio AFP cases per 100,000 children, meeting WHO sensitivity criteria.
- Coxsackievirus B1, echovirus 11, and enterovirus A71 were identified; a vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 was isolated from Melbourne sewage.
Conclusions:
- Australia's clinical surveillance system is sensitive for detecting AFP.
- The detection of non-polio enteroviruses and vaccine-derived poliovirus underscores the importance of integrated surveillance systems.
- Continued monitoring is crucial to maintain polio-free status and detect potential threats.