PRESS RELEASE: VACCINE DERIVED POLIO VIRUS DETECTED IN BOTSWANA

The Ministry of Health informs members of the public that while conducting routine environmental surveillance, it detected a circulating vaccine derived polio virus type 2 in one sewage site in Gaborone. A vaccine derived polio virus is a strain that can be excreted post vaccination with a weakened live polio virus contained in the oral polio vaccine. On rare occasions, if a population is under-immunized, the excreted vaccine-virus can continue to circulate for an extended period of time and may cause illness.

Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that commonly affects children under 5 years of age. The disease is caused by poliovirus which is transmitted and spread from person-to-person, mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, through taking contaminated water or food. Initial symptoms of polio include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness of the neck and pain in the limbs. In a small proportion of cases, the disease causes paralysis, which is often permanent. There is currently no cure for polio, but the disease can be prevented by immunization. Polio is one of the diseases targeted by WHO for complete eradication in the world.

Botswana last recorded a case of polio 18 years ago (in 2004), which was imported from other countries. The current virus, which was detected from a sample at a sewage site in Gaborone, has properties that are similar to those found in Central Africa, making it an imported virus too. Since the world, including Botswana, desires to eradicate polio altogether, any detection of polio is worrisome. Fortunately, as a country, Botswana has put in place surveillance mechanisms that help the country to timeously detect the polio virus for immediate response.

The Ministry has engaged strategic partners like the WHO, UNICEF and others, for technical and other necessary support. As part of the required investigation, the National Rapid Response Teams (NRRT) have been deployed to some of the areas that feed the concerned sewage tank, namely; Old Naledi, Gaborone West, Tsholofelo East, Gabane, Metsimotlhabe, Tlokweng, Block 6, Kumakwane and Mogoditshane to test children under 5 years of age for the poliovirus. The Ministry requests members of the public not to panic but remain vigilant and ensure that their children below the age of 5 years, are vaccinated against polio. They should further report any case of a child presenting with sudden onset of paralysis and should keep their environment, food and water clean all the time.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully

Dr Christopher Nyanga

For Permanent Secretary