The silent reintroduction of wild-type poliovirus detected via sewage monitoring without active cases presented significant risk communication challenges for the Israeli Ministry of Health.
Effective risk communication strategies are essential for managing public health responses, such as vaccination campaigns, during silent outbreaks detected via environmental monitoring.
Israel has been certified as polio-free by the World Health Organization and its routine immunisation schedule consists of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) only. At the end of May 2013, the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed the reintroduction of wild-type poliovirus 1 into the country. Documented ongoing human-to-human transmission necessitated a thorough risk assessment followed by a supplemental immunisation campaign using oral polio vaccine (OPV). The unusual situation in which ongoing poliovirus transmission was picked up through an early warning system of sewage monitoring without active polio cases, brought about significant challenges in risk communication. This paper reviews the challenges faced by the MOH and the communication strategy devised, in order to facilitate and optimise the various components of the public health response, particularly vaccination. Lessons learned from our recent experience may inform risk communication approaches in other countries that may face a similar situation as global polio eradication moves towards the 'End game'.
Kaliner et al. (Thu,) conducted a review in Wild-type poliovirus 1 reintroduction. Risk communication strategy and oral polio vaccine (OPV) campaign was evaluated. The silent reintroduction of wild-type poliovirus detected via sewage monitoring without active cases presented significant risk communication challenges for the Israeli Ministry of Health.