A 1996 outbreak of wild poliovirus type 1 in Albania caused 138 paralytic cases (12% fatal), with an attack rate of 10 per 100,000 among adults aged 19-25 years.
Observational (n=138)
Does mass vaccination with trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine control a poliomyelitis outbreak in a susceptible population?
Mass vaccination with trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine effectively controlled a large poliomyelitis outbreak in Albania, highlighting the importance of adequate cold chain and outbreak response.
After >10 years without detection of any cases of wild virus-associated poliomyelitis, a large outbreak of poliomyelitis occurred in Albania in 1996. A total of 138 paralytic cases occurred, of which 16 (12%) were fatal. The outbreak was due to wild poliovirus type 1, isolated from 69 cases. An attack rate of 10 per 100,000 population was observed among adults aged 19-25 years who were born during a time of declining wild poliovirus circulation and had been vaccinated with two doses of monovalent oral poliovirus vaccines (OPVs) that may have been exposed to ambient temperatures for prolonged periods. Control of the epidemic was achieved by two rounds of mass vaccination with trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine targeted to persons aged 0-50 years. This outbreak underscores the ongoing threat of importation of wild poliovirus into European countries, the importance of delivering potent vaccine through an adequate cold chain, and the effectiveness of national OPV mass vaccination campaigns for outbreak control.
Prevots et al. (Sun,) conducted a observational in Paralytic poliomyelitis (n=138). Mass vaccination with trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine was evaluated on Paralytic cases and fatalities. A 1996 outbreak of wild poliovirus type 1 in Albania caused 138 paralytic cases (12% fatal), with an attack rate of 10 per 100,000 among adults aged 19-25 years.