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Poliovirus surveillance: building the global Polio Laboratory Network
1Global Programme for Vaccines and Immunization, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|February 1, 1997
Summary
The World Health Organization established a global virologic laboratory network for wild poliovirus surveillance and polio eradication certification. This network ensures accurate identification and genetic analysis, supporting global health initiatives.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) established a global network of virologic laboratories.
- This network is crucial for surveillance of wild poliovirus and certification of poliomyelitis eradication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the structure and function of the WHO's virologic laboratory network.
- To highlight the network's role in global polio eradication efforts.
Main Methods:
- The network comprises national, regional, and global specialized laboratories.
- Collaboration with national eradication programs for specimen collection and testing (stool specimens for acute flaccid paralysis cases).
- Genomic sequencing of wild polioviruses and advanced virologic analysis.
Main Results:
- The network facilitates the isolation and identification of polioviruses.
- Intratypic differentiation of wild and vaccine strains is performed.
- A robust quality assurance system ensures laboratory accreditation and standardized performance.
Conclusions:
- The established virologic laboratory network is essential for global poliomyelitis eradication.
- Standardized techniques, quality assurance, and advanced diagnostics underpin the network's success.
- The network's collaborative approach is key to detecting and responding to poliovirus circulation.