The Namibian poliomyelitis outbreak and its consequences for South Africa

  • Jantjie Taljaard Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch
  • Neil Cameron Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch
  • Mark Cotton Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch
  • Gert van Zyl Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch
  • Peter Vurgarellis Rotary International
  • Wolgang Preiser Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch
Keywords: Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance, live oral polio vaccine (OPV), PolioPlus programme, eradication, national immunisation days (NIDs), general hygiene, vaccine associated polio paralysis (VAPP)

Abstract

This paper is based on a Public Health Forum presented by the Centre for Infectious Diseases at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, on 22 June 2006. It summarises the most important facts about polio in the context of the 2006 outbreak of the disease in Namibia and aims to provide the practitioner with the necessary information to face the unexpected re-emergence of an almost forgotten disease in the sub region.

Author Biographies

Jantjie Taljaard, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch
MBChB; MMed (Intern); DTM&H; Cert ID Centre for Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine Tygerberg Academic Hospital University of Stellenbosch
Neil Cameron, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch
MBChB; DCH (SA); DTM&H; B.Sc.Hons (Epidemiology); FCPHM (SA)
Mark Cotton, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch
MBChB; FCPaed; MMed (Paed); DTM&H; DCH (SA); PhD; Cert ID
Gert van Zyl, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch
MBChB; FCPath (SA) Virol; MMed Pathology (Virol); B.Sc.Hons (Epidemiology)
Peter Vurgarellis, Rotary International
MBChB, FFCH(CM)(SA)
Wolgang Preiser, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch
Dr med; Dr med habil; DTM&H; MRCPath
Published
2006-09-15
Issue
Vol 48, No 7 - August 2006
Section
Editorials
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