The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported the detection of type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) in stool samples from two healthy children in Papua New Guinea, according to Reuters. This finding is considered a significant public health event by the WHO, despite the children showing no symptoms.
Poliomyelitis, in its wild form, is now endemic only in Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, vaccine-derived forms of the virus continue to cause outbreaks in various countries, including Nigeria and Ethiopia, where paralysis cases have been reported due to the virus.
In Papua New Guinea, the low immunization rate of just 44% for the third essential dose heightens the risk of transmission. In response, WHO and local authorities have initiated extensive surveillance and vaccination campaigns to prevent the spread of the virus.
