Surveillance to Track Progress Toward Polio Eradication — Worldwide, 2018–2019

Jacquelyn S. Lickness, MPH1; Tracie Gardner, PhD2; Ousmane M. Diop, PhD2; Smita Chavan, MS1; Jaume Jorba, PhD3; Jamal Ahmed, MD2; Nicksy Gumede, PhD4; Ticha Johnson, MD4; Obaid Butt, MD5; Humayun Asghar, MD5; Eugene Saxentoff, PhD6; Varja Grabovac, MSc7; Tigran Avagyan, MD7; Sudhir Joshi, MPH8; Gloria Rey-Benito, MSc9; Jane Iber, MSc3; Elizabeth Henderson3; Steven G.F. Wassilak, MD1; Abhijeet Anand, MBBS1 (View author affiliations)

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Summary

What is already known about this topic?

High-quality surveillance is essential to achieving polio eradication. Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance is the primary means of detecting poliovirus, supplemented by environmental surveillance in selected locations.

What is added by this report?

In 2019, 25 (63%) of 40 priority countries met AFP surveillance indicators nationally. The proportion of priority countries that achieved targeted AFP detection and stool collection adequacy indicators declined from 2018 to 2019. Surveillance gaps remained at the subnational level.

What are the implications for public health practice?

All countries must resolve national and subnational surveillance gaps to ensure that poliovirus circulation is quickly detected. Important activities to enhance and maintain sensitive surveillance include effective case detection, investigation, reporting, monitoring, and supervision.

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Since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was launched in 1988, the number of polio cases worldwide has declined approximately 99.99%; only two countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan) have never interrupted wild poliovirus (WPV) transmission (1). The primary means of detecting poliovirus circulation is through surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) among children aged <15 years with testing of stool specimens for WPV and vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs) (genetically reverted strains of the vaccine virus that regain neurovirulence) in World Health Organization (WHO)–accredited laboratories (2,3). In many locations, AFP surveillance is supplemented by environmental surveillance, the regular collection and testing of sewage to provide awareness of the extent and duration of poliovirus circulation (3). This report presents 2018–2019 poliovirus surveillance data, focusing on 40 priority countries* with WPV or VDPV outbreaks or at high risk for importation because of their proximity to a country with an outbreak. The number of priority countries rose from 31 in 2018 to 40 in 2019 because of a substantial increase in the number of VDPV outbreaks (2,4). In areas with low poliovirus immunity, VDPVs can circulate in the community and cause outbreaks of paralysis; these are known as circulating vaccine derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) (4). In 2019, only 25 (63%) of the 40 designated priority countries met AFP surveillance indicators nationally; subnational surveillance performance varied widely and indicated focal weaknesses. High quality, sensitive surveillance is important to ensure timely detection and response to cVDPV and WPV transmission.

Acute Flaccid Paralysis Surveillance

Two primary surveillance performance indicators assess AFP surveillance quality. The first is the nonpolio AFP (NPAFP) rate§ (the number of NPAFP cases per 100,000 children aged <15 years per year); an NPAFP rate ≥2 is considered sufficiently sensitive to detect circulating poliovirus. The second is the collection of adequate stool specimens from AFP patients (i.e., two stool specimens collected ≥24 hours apart and within 14 days of paralysis onset) and arrival of these specimens at a WHO-accredited laboratory by reverse cold chain (storing and transporting samples at recommended temperatures from the point of collection to the laboratory) and in good condition (i.e., without leakage or desiccation) from ≥80% of persons with AFP, which ensures adequate sensitivity and specificity to track poliovirus circulation (3).

Among the 47 countries in the WHO African Region (AFR), the number of priority countries increased from 18 (38%) in 2018 to 30 (64%) in 2019 because of the increase in the number of VDPV outbreaks (2,4). To describe the previous 2 years’ performance for this year’s priority countries, surveillance performance was assessed for 2018 and 2019 for the 30 2019 priority countries in AFR (Table 1). In 2018, cVDPV type 2 (cVDPV2) cases or environmental surveillance isolations were detected in five countries (Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC], Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, and Nigeria) and, in 2019, in 14 countries (Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Togo, and Zambia). In 2018 and 2019, both the NPAFP rate and adequate stool collection AFP surveillance performance indicators were met nationally in 27 (90%) and 20 (67%) of the 30 2019 priority countries, respectively (Table 1). Numerous subnational pockets of low surveillance performance were identified during 2018–2019 (Table 1) (Figure). September 2019 marked 3 years since the last reported WPV1 isolation in AFR (in Borno, Nigeria); during this period, populations living within security-compromised areas in Nigeria decreased and community-based surveillance and specimen collection increased (5).

Among the 21 countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), the number of priority countries decreased from 11 (52%) in 2018 to five (24%) in 2019. Surveillance performance was assessed for the five 2019 priority countries in EMR (Afghanistan, Djibouti, Pakistan, Somalia, and Sudan) for 2018 and 2019 (Table 1). From 2018 to 2019, the number of WPV1 cases increased from 21 to 29 in Afghanistan (38% increase) and from 12 to 147 in Pakistan (1,125% increase). In 2019, 22 cVDPV2 cases were also reported in Pakistan (Table 1). In Somalia, 12 cVDPV cases (type 2 and 3) were reported in 2018 (including one coinfection with types 2 and 3), and three cVDPV2 cases were reported in 2019. Four of the five EMR priority countries met both surveillance indicators in 2018 and 2019; in Djibouti only 16% of the population lived in areas meeting both indicators in 2019 (Figure).

In the Western Pacific Region (WPR), surveillance performance was assessed for three countries (Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Philippines) (Table 1). No priority country met both AFP surveillance indicators in 2018 and 2019. Two cVDPV type 1 (cVDPV1) cases reported in Philippines in 2019 were genetically linked to three cVDPV1 cases reported in Malaysia; 13 cVDPV2 cases were also reported in Philippines in 2019. Environmental surveillance also detected genetically linked cVDPV1 and cVDPV2 isolates in both countries. One cVDPV2 case was reported in China in 2019. Subnational NPAFP rate and stool adequacy indicators were suboptimal in Philippines and Malaysia in 2018 and 2019, indicating gaps in AFP case detection or investigation. Although Papua New Guinea met the NPAFP target performance indicator in both years, the stool adequacy target was not met at the national level.

In the South-East Asia Region (SEAR), surveillance performance was assessed for two countries (Indonesia and Burma [Myanmar]) (Table 1). In 2018, both countries met both surveillance indicators and in 2019, one Burma (Myanmar) met both indicators. Six cVDPV1 cases were reported in Burma (Myanmar) in 2019, which had subnational weaknesses in NPAFP surveillance (Figure). No cVDPV1 cases were reported in Indonesia in 2019 after detection of one cVDPV1 case in 2018; however, weaknesses in subnational surveillance performance were identified in 2019.

Environmental Surveillance

Environmental surveillance enhances the sensitivity of poliovirus surveillance by identifying poliovirus circulation that might occur in the absence of detected AFP cases (6), as occurred in 2018 and 2019 in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire,** and Kenya; environmental surveillance confirmed cVDPV circulation well before AFP case detection in China, Central African Republic, Ghana, Malaysia, Nigeria, Philippines, and Somalia. In Iran, WPV1 was isolated from sewage in 2019 in the absence of detected AFP cases.

In Nigeria, environmental surveillance resulted in 45 cVDPV2 isolates in 2018 and 60 in 2019. In 2018, six WPV1 genetic clusters (isolates with ≥95% genetic relatedness) were detected in environmental surveillance from seven provinces in Afghanistan. In Pakistan, eight genetic clusters were detected from 28 districts in four provinces and in the Islamabad Capital Territory. In Pakistan, the number of WPV1 environmental surveillance detections increased in 2019, compared with that in 2018, with the largest increase in the Sindh province.

Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN)

GPLN comprises 145 poliovirus laboratories in the six WHO regions. GPLN laboratories implement standardized protocols to 1) isolate polioviruses (all laboratories); 2) conduct intratypic differentiation (ITD) to identify WPV, Sabin (oral polio vaccine) poliovirus and VDPV (134 laboratories); and 3) conduct genomic sequencing (28 laboratories). Poliovirus transmission pathways are monitored through sequence analysis of an isolate’s viral capsid protein (VP1) coding region. Standard AFP timeliness indicators specify that laboratories should report ≥80% of poliovirus virus isolation results within 14 days of specimen receipt, ≥80% of ITD results within 7 days of isolate receipt, and ≥80% of sequencing results within 7 days of ITD result. The combined field and laboratory performance indicator is reporting of ITD results for ≥80% of isolates within 60 days of paralysis onset in AFP cases. The accuracy and quality of testing at GPLN laboratories are monitored through an annual accreditation program of onsite reviews and proficiency testing (7). Another accreditation checklist is used for laboratories conducting environmental surveillance, with separate timeliness indicators.

GPLN tested 190,055 stool specimens in 2018 and 219,049 stool specimens in 2019 (Table 2). WPV1 was isolated from 33 stool specimens in 2018 and from 156 stool specimens in 2019. cVDPVs were isolated from 105 AFP patients in 2018 and from 437 in 2019. From 2018 to 2019, the number of stool specimens with cVDPV isolates increased from 65 to 303 (366%) in AFR, from 13 to 50 in EMR (284%), from one to 10 (90%) in SEAR, and from 26 to 74 (185%) in WPR. In 2018 and 2019, all regions met the timeliness indicator for poliovirus isolation.

In 2019, the South Asia genotype (the only WPV1 genotype circulating globally since 2016) was detected in Afghanistan and Pakistan. There were no “orphan” WPV1 isolates (those with ≤98.5% genetic identity in VP1, compared with other isolates) from AFP patients in 2018, and there were five in 2019 (two in Afghanistan and three in Pakistan), indicating possible gaps in AFP surveillance. The genetic diversity of WPV1 isolates in Afghanistan and Pakistan increased during the reporting period because of the high level of WPV1 circulation during the low season from October to May (8). Genomic sequence analysis identified seven cVDPV2 emergences in six countries in 2018 and 39 cVDPV2 emergences in 19 countries in 2019 (4,5).

Discussion

Although many of the 40 priority countries evaluated met national-level AFP surveillance performance indicators, the percentage of 2019 priority countries meeting both indicators declined overall from 83% in 2018 to 63% in 2019. Critical subnational gaps were also reported in almost all countries assessed, and the decline in the number of countries meeting the stool adequacy target from 2018 to 2019 indicates challenges in timely detection and investigation of suspected AFP cases or in specimen transport and handling. GPEI has outlined activities to enhance polio surveillance in high-priority countries (9), and the surveillance status report (10) details efforts to address current challenges; despite efforts, however, shortcomings remain in detection, investigation, reporting, and monitoring. Competing priorities, limited logistical support, and heavy workloads could all contribute to suboptimal surveillance performance. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic might exacerbate these existing challenges and present new ones in polio immunization, surveillance, and laboratory testing activities†† as a result of diminished access to health care and immunization and concerns about exposure to COVID-19 cases.

The findings in this report are subject to at least three limitations. First, matters related to security, hard-to-reach subpopulations, and other factors could affect subnational AFP surveillance indicators and limit their interpretation. Second, high NPAFP rates do not necessarily indicate highly sensitive surveillance because not all reported AFP cases meet the case definition, and some AFP cases might not be detected. Finally, the accuracy of stool specimen collection timeliness depends on whether the field investigator can elicit the actual date of paralysis onset.

High-quality AFP surveillance is critical to detecting poliovirus transmission. Important activities to enhance and maintain sensitive surveillance include effective case detection, investigation, reporting, monitoring, and supervision. Where the effects of COVID-19 are particularly devastating, efforts at the national and subnational levels should be made to restore curative health systems, preventive services, and overall infectious disease surveillance and control activities and, in the process, ensure availability of resources to enhance poliovirus surveillance and safeguard progress toward polio eradication. Continuous assessment of surveillance performance at the national and subnational levels must be undertaken to identify and promptly address gaps to achieve eradication of poliovirus worldwide.

Acknowledgments

World Health Organization (WHO) Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN) regional sequencing laboratories and GPLN Regional Coordinators at the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, WHO Regional Office for the Americas, WHO Regional Office for Europe, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, and WHO Regional Office for Africa; Staff members of the Polio Eradication Branch, Global Immunization Division, Center for Global Health, CDC; Polio and Picornavirus Laboratory Branch, Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC; Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Services Program, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; and Division of Emergency Operations, Center for Preparedness and Response, CDC.

Corresponding author: Jacquelyn S. Lickness, wxx3@cdc.gov, 404-639-8039.


1Global Immunization Division, Center for Global Health, CDC; 2Polio Eradication Department, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; 3Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC; 4Polio Eradication Department, World Health Organization, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo; 5Polio Eradication Department, World Health Organization, Amman, Jordan; 6Polio Eradication Department, World Health Organization, Copenhagen, Denmark; 7Polio Eradication Department, World Health Organization, Manila, Philippines; 8Polio Eradication Department, World Health Organization, New Delhi, India; 9Polio Eradication Department, World Health Organization, Washington, DC.

All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.


* 2019 priority countries: African Region: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe; Eastern Mediterranean Region: Afghanistan, Djibouti, Pakistan, Somalia, and Sudan; South-East Asia Region: Burma (Myanmar) and Indonesia; Western Pacific Region: Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Philippines; 2018 priority countries; African Region: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan; Eastern Mediterranean Region: Afghanistan, Djibouti, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen; South-East Asia Region: Indonesia; Western Pacific Region: Papua New Guinea.

Countries were selected for the previous 2017–2018 MMWR report according to the Global Polio Surveillance Action Plan high-priority country list; countries for this report (2018–2019) were selected according to whether they had endemic transmission, had a VDPV outbreak, or were in geographic proximity to an outbreak in Africa.

§ Per 100,000 children aged <15 years per year.

For this country, MMWR uses the U.S. State Department short-form name “Burma”; WHO uses “Myanmar.”

** Côte d’Ivoire has confirmed three cVDPV2 cases in 2020 as of May 22.

†† GPEI has offered its global technical and material assets to support the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic response and has recommended that preventive and response polio supplementary immunization activities be suspended until June 1, 2020, or later. AFP and environmental surveillance activities should continue as possible and according to countries’ COVID-19 contexts, as should preparations for the use of the novel type 2 oral poliovirus vaccine, scheduled for introduction in select countries in mid-2020.

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TABLE 1. National and subnational acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance performance indicators and number of confirmed wild poliovirus (WPV) and circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) cases, by country — 40 priority countries, World Health Organization (WHO) African, Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific regions, 2018–2019Return to your place in the text
Year/WHO region/Country No. of AFP cases (all ages) Regional/ National NPAFP rate Subnational areas with NPAFP rate ≥2 (%)§ Regional or national AFP cases with adequate specimens (%) Subnational areas with ≥80% adequate specimens (%) Population living in areas meeting both indicators (%)** No. of confirmed WPV cases* No. of confirmed cVDPV cases*,††
2018
African Region 22,620 5.6 N/A 89.3 N/A N/A §§ 65
Angola 330 2.3 77.8 92.7 94.4 58.8
Benin 209 4.3 100.0 90.4 100.0 100.0
Botswana 19 2.6 81.8 100.0 100.0 62.2
Burkina Faso 359 4.0 100.0 85.2 76.9 83.9
Burundi 122 2.4 37.5 90.2 81.3 27.3
Cameroon 777 7.2 90.0 83.5 80.0 71.9
Central African Republic 134 6.6 85.7 67.2 14.3 0.0
Chad 650 9.0 100.0 90.5 81.8 93.8
Congo 167 7.2 100.0 88.0 90.9 97.5
Côte d’Ivoire 374 3.5 94.1 80.2 47.1 38.8
Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,743 6.6 85.2 77.3 55.6 53.0 20
Eritrea 114 5.3 100.0 95.6 80.0 96.9
Ethiopia 1,079 2.5 72.7 83.1 54.5 51.2
Ghana 510 4.3 90.0 87.5 90.0 75.6
Guinea 232 4.2 100.0 88.8 87.5 81.6
Kenya 680 3.3 72.3 87.2 72.3 56.1
Liberia 72 3.6 100.0 84.7 66.7 81.3
Malawi 210 2.4 100.0 88.1 100.0 100.0
Mali 292 3.2 100.0 87.0 77.8 96.2
Mozambique 463 3.4 100.0 88.1 81.8 86.6 1
Namibia 25 1.8 66.7 80.0 66.7 43.3
Niger 973 8.6 100.0 81.0 75.0 81.1 10
Nigeria 9,375 10.9 100.0 95.3 100.0 100.0 34
Rwanda 140 2.8 80.0 87.1 100.0 89.2
South Sudan 447 8.3 100.0 83.0 60.0 62.9
Tanzania 875 3.3 100.0 97.8 100.0 100.0
Togo 144 4.4 100.0 88.2 100.0 100.0
Uganda 712 3.3 62.8 90.4 88.4 54.8
Zambia 198 2.4 66.7 84.3 66.7 37.1
Zimbabwe 195 2.7 100.0 93.8 100.0 100.0
Eastern Mediterranean Region 16,522 15.1 N/A 88.6 N/A N/A 33 12
Afghanistan 3,364 21.6 100.0 93.8 97.1 98.4 21
Djibouti 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Pakistan 12,231 17.5 100.0 86.6 87.5 99.2 12
Somalia 351 4.8 100.0 97.7 100.0 100.0 12
Sudan 576 3.4 100.0 97.4 100.0 100.0
South-East Asia Region 2,055 2.4 N/A 83.4 N/A N/A 1
Burma (Myanmar)¶¶ 333 2.4 76.5 94.3 100.0 68.6
Indonesia 1,722 2.4 75.0 81.3 53.1 52.8 1
Western Pacific Region 783 1.7 N/A 58.5 N/A N/A 26
Malaysia 170 2.2 42.9 79.4 57.1 23.4
Papua New Guinea 285 7.9 95.5 43.9 13.6 7.6 26
Philippines 328 1.0 0.0 60.4 0.0 0.0
2019
African Region 22,329 5.4 N/A 84.2 N/A N/A 287
Angola 603 3.3 77.8 71.8 27.8 6.1 113
Benin 310 6.1 100.0 90.6 84.6 86.5 8
Botswana 27 3.1 86.7 66.7 46.7 32.0
Burkina Faso 374 4.1 43.8 82.4 81.3 34.0 1
Burundi 98 1.9 33.3 93.9 100.0 35.1
Cameroon 613 5.7 80.0 79.8 50.0 35.9
Central African Republic 230 8.3 100.0 51.7 0.0 0.0 21
Chad 820 11.0 100.0 82.9 59.1 68.1 5
Congo 195 8.1 100.0 81.0 58.3 61.9
Côte d’Ivoire 421 3.9 100.0 77.7 45.0 42.8
Democratic Republic of the Congo 3,816 9.0 92.6 70.6 7.4 7.2 85
Eritrea 110 5.0 100.0 86.4 60.0 47.2
Ethiopia 1,223 2.8 91.7 85.8 83.3 79.7 13
Ghana 663 5.5 100.0 86.6 87.5 94.5 14
Guinea 233 4.1 100.0 86.7 62.5 59.6
Kenya 560 2.6 72.3 92.9 78.7 66.9
Liberia 70 3.3 86.7 90.0 80.0 81.7
Malawi 189 2.1 66.7 89.4 100.0 56.0
Mali 301 3.2 90.9 82.1 63.6 77.8
Mozambique 510 3.6 100.0 72.5 27.3 31.5
Namibia 27 2.5 66.7 81.5 75.0 32.9
Niger 906 7.8 100.0 67.7 0.0 0.0 1
Nigeria 7,509 8.5 100.0 94.1 100.0 100.0 18
Rwanda 125 2.4 80.0 89.6 100.0 89.2
South Sudan 399 7.2 100.0 89.7 90.0 84.0
Tanzania 856 3.1 96.8 91.8 100.0 94.1
Togo 164 4.5 100.0 68.9 50.0 52.2 6
Uganda 580 2.7 86.7 89.7 93.3 77.4
Zambia 232 2.8 70.0 81.9 70.0 36.8 2
Zimbabwe 165 2.2 90.0 83.6 60.0 57.2
Eastern Mediterranean Region 19,945 17.8 N/A 88.4 N/A N/A 176 25
Afghanistan 3,768 23.9 100.0 94.1 100.0 100.0 29
Djibouti 5 1.7 50.0 80.0 50.0 10.6
Pakistan 15,203 21.2 100.0 86.5 100.0 100.0 147 22
Somalia 361 5.0 100.0 95.6 100.0 100.0 3
Sudan 608 3.6 100.0 96.4 100.0 100.0
South-East Asia Region 2,210 2.6 N/A 80.5 N/A N/A 6
Burma (Myanmar)¶¶ 418 2.9 88.2 90.0 88.2 78.7 6
Indonesia 1,792 2.5 72.7 78.3 54.5 59.5
Western Pacific Region 1,279 2.8 N/A 55.4 N/A N/A 18
Malaysia 194 2.5 78.6 74.7 50.0 36.2 3
Papua New Guinea 213 7.0 94.4 76.5 50.0 43.6
Philippines 872 2.5 12.5 46.0 0.0 0.0 15

Abbreviations: N/A = not applicable; NPAFP = nonpolio AFP.
* Data as of April 2, 2020.
Per 100,000 persons aged <15 years per year.
§ For all subnational areas regardless of population size.
Standard WHO target is adequate stool specimen collection from ≥80% of AFP cases, assessed by timeliness and condition. For this analysis, timeliness was defined as two specimens collected ≥24 hours apart (≥1 calendar day in this data set), both within 14 days of paralysis onset. Good condition was defined as arrival of specimens in a WHO-accredited laboratory with reverse cold chain maintained and without leakage or desiccation.
** Percentage of the country’s population living in subnational areas that met both surveillance indicators (NPAFP rates ≥2 per 100,000 persons aged <15 years per year and ≥80% of AFP cases with adequate specimens).
†† cVDPV was associated with at least one case of AFP with evidence of community transmission and genetically linked. Guidelines for classification of cVDPV can be found at http://polioeradication.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Reporting-and-Classification-of-VDPVs_Aug2016_EN.pdf.
§§ Dashes indicate that no confirmed cases were found.
¶¶ For this country, MMWR uses the U.S. State Department short-form name “Burma”; WHO uses “Myanmar.”

Return to your place in the textFIGURE. Combined performance indicators for the quality of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance* in subnational areas of 40 priority countries — World Health Organization (WHO) African, Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific regions, 2019
The figure is a map showing the combined performance indicators for the quality of acute flaccid paralysis surveillance in subnational areas of 40 countries identified by the World Health Organization as priority countries the in the African, Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific regions in 2019.

Abbreviation: NPAFP = nonpolio acute flaccid paralysis.

* Targets: ≥2 NPAFP cases per 100,000 children aged <15 years per year and ≥80% of persons with AFP having two stool specimens collected ≥24 hours apart within 14 days of paralysis onset and arrival of these specimens at a WHO-accredited laboratory by reverse cold chain and in good condition.

For Burma (Myanmar), MMWR uses the U.S. State Department short-form name “Burma”; WHO uses “Myanmar.”

TABLE 2. Number of poliovirus isolates from stool specimens of persons with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and timing of results — World Health Organization (WHO) regions, 2018 and 2019*Return to your place in the text
WHO region/Year No. of specimens No. of poliovirus isolates % of poliovirus isolation on time** % of ITD results within 7 days of receipt of specimen†† % of ITD results within 60 days of paralysis onset
Wild Sabin§ cVDPV
African
2018 51,292 0 2,547 65 94 98 96
2019 51,634 0 1,207 303 93 99 94
Americas
2018 1,886 0 47 0 86 100 100
2019 1,957 0 15 0 80 78 88
Eastern Mediterranean
2018 40,419 33 1,749 13 92 99 97
2019 58,924 156 1,927 50 92 99 92
European
2018 3,274 0 71 0 84 92 62
2019 3,295 0 52 0 83 100 87
South-East Asia
2018 79,566 0 1,970 1 97 100 99
2019 88,734 0 1,807 10 94 98 97
Western Pacific
2018 13,638 0 348 26 97 99 68
2019 14,505 0 164 74 97 96 71
Total§§
2018 190,055 33 6,732 105 95 99 95
2019 219,049 312 5,172 437 95 99 96

Abbreviations: cVDPV = circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus; ITD = intratypic differentiation.
* 2018 data as of March 4, 2019; 2019 data as of March 18, 2020.
† Number of AFP cases with WPV isolates.
§ Either 1) concordant Sabin-like results in ITD test and VDPV screening, or 2) ≤1% VP1 nucleotide sequence difference compared with Sabin vaccine virus (≤0.6% for type 2).
For poliovirus types 1 and 3, 10 or more VP1 nucleotide differences from the respective poliovirus; for poliovirus type 2, six or more VP1 nucleotide differences from Sabin type 2 poliovirus.
** Results reported within 14 days of receipt of specimen.
†† Results of ITD reported within 7 days of receipt of specimen.
§§ For the last three indicators, total represents weighted mean percentage of indicators from the six regions.


Suggested citation for this article: Lickness JS, Gardner T, Diop OM, et al. Surveillance to Track Progress Toward Polio Eradication — Worldwide, 2018–2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:623–629. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6920a3.

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