Australian National Enterovirus Reference Laboratory annual report, 2023

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Virology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Australia maintains polio-free status through rigorous surveillance as per WHO guidelines.
• Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance in children under 15 is crucial for detecting poliovirus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on Australia's polio surveillance data for 2023.
• To assess the sensitivity of Australia's AFP surveillance system against WHO performance criteria.

Main Methods:

• Clinical surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases in children.
• Virological investigation of fecal specimens by the National Enterovirus Reference Laboratory.
• Enterovirus and wastewater surveillance to complement clinical data.

Main Results:

• No cases of poliomyelitis were reported in Australia in 2023.
• Australia reported 1.71 non-polio AFP cases per 100,000 children, meeting WHO sensitivity criteria.
• Several non-polio enteroviruses were identified in AFP cases, including coxsackievirus and echovirus strains.

Conclusions:

• Australia's surveillance systems effectively monitor for poliovirus and other enteroviruses.
• The system's sensitivity meets WHO standards, ensuring the detection of potential polio cases.
• Global poliovirus circulation continues in endemic countries and through vaccine-derived strains in other nations.