Re-emergence of vaccine-derived poliovirus in neighboring country and surveillance to maintain polio-free status in Thailand

Authors

  • Pawinee Doungngern Division of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59096/wesr.v56i7.6478

Keywords:

vaccine-derived poliovirus, polio-free status , Thailand

Abstract

Polio is a serious infectious disease caused by the poliovirus, which is transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water. Most infected individuals show no symptoms, but some may develop paralysis and even die. Effective prevention relies on vaccination, using both the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). Thailand has been certified polio-free since 1997, but the risk remains, particularly in areas with low population immunity. Cases are still being reported in some countries, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, and most recently in July 2025, a case of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (VDPV1) was reported in Shan State, Myanmar, which borders northern Thailand. This strain has the potential to spread similarly to the wild poliovirus. Therefore, surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in children under 15 years of age is essential. However, data from 2024 show that both the AFP case reporting rate and specimen collection remain below international standards. It is crucial to urgently strengthen the surveillance system to ensure the timely detection of cases and to maintain the country’s polio-free status.

References

Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The Virus. Geneva: World Health Organization; [cited 2025 Jul 20]. Available from: https://polioeradication.org/about-polio/the-virus/

World Health Organization. Wild Poliovirus List 2019-2025. [cited 2025 Jul 20]. Available from: https://extranet.who.int/polis/public/CaseCount.aspx

Newey S. Three-year-old paralysed by polio as Myanmar’s health system crumbles. The Telegraph. 2025.

Jaipong R, Nonmuti P, Doungngern P. Report on the Surveillance of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) from 1 January – 30 June 2025. Nonthaburi: Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health (TH); 2025 [cited 2025 Jul 25]. Available from: https://ddc.moph.go.th/uploads/ckeditor2//files/DOE_AFPreport_June.2568.pdf (in Thai)

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Published

2025-07-31

How to Cite

Doungngern, P. (2025). Re-emergence of vaccine-derived poliovirus in neighboring country and surveillance to maintain polio-free status in Thailand. Weekly Epidemiological Surveillance Report, 56(7), e6478. https://doi.org/10.59096/wesr.v56i7.6478

Issue

Vol. 56 No. 7 (2025): July 2025

Section

Health situation analysis

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