I guess some of you would have followed recent developments around wild polio virus circulation in Syria where they are now clinical cases being reported. see http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_10_29/en/index.html
I am trying to gather guidances, publications, reports of polio intervention among refugees groups coming from countries with evidence of WPV circulation to polio-free countries (e.g. including supplementary immunisation campaigns, serology testing, timing of interventions, logistics, how to prevent further spread among refugees etc..)
I thought some of you are/have been involved in similar activities.
I am grateful if you could share any practical information you may have on lessons to consider when welcoming refugees from countries with established WPV circulation to non-endemic countries..and in the case of poliovirus in particular!
Many thanks
Tarik Derrough
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Stockholm, Sweden
We have been advising countries around Syria to apply the WHO recommendations in the International Travel and Health with the following link:
WHO recommendations for the vaccination of all travellers to/from polio-infected areas is included in Chapter 6 of the WHO document ‘International Travel and Health’ at http://www.who.int/ith/chapters/ith2012en_chap6.pdf.http://www.who.int/ith/chapters/ith2012en_chap6.pdf.
In practical terms, where possible, refugees from polio infected countries should be fully vaccinated against polio and given a booster dose. As an additional measure, hosting countries could also give a dose of OPV on arrival (similar to what Saudi Arabia does for Hajj pilgrims). For under-vaccinated arriving children, complete full vaccination series.
Hamid Syed Jafari
Director of Polio Operations and Research
Polio Eradication Initiative
World Health Organization
As for specific recommendations for children in refugee camps, the guidelines are as follows:
On entry and registration, the usual policy is oral polio vaccine (OPV) and meningococcal vaccine (MCV). Then catch up with routine vaccination services supplemented by mass campaigns in camps and in host communities. But there are many unregistered refugees crossing borders.
Michelle Shameem Gayer,
Disease Control in Humanitarian Emergencies
World Health Organization
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