In Kambia, Northern Sierra Leone, health officials have confirmed a case of vaccine-derived polio virus. Even though the virus is not as dangerous as the wild poliovirus, it can still spread quickly and mutate, which can harm one’s health. The case was promptly confirmed by testing at the Institute Pasteur in Abidjan and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases in South Africa.
The Ministry of Health is actively working with neighbouring nations on cross-border surveillance and public education regarding polio and vaccination in response to this development. To stop the virus from spreading further, a strong response strategy is being put into action. Parents and other carers of children under five are being urged by health authorities to make sure their children receive recommended vaccinations, such as the polio vaccine, on time.
This announcement follows Sierra Leone’s celebration of the World Health Organization’s August 2020 certification that the country is free of the wild poliovirus. Children under five who contract the wild poliovirus can develop permanent paralysis from poliomyelitis. Vaccination is the safest way to avoid the disease, which can be fatal in severe cases and cause debilitating effects for the rest of a person’s life.
Although Africa has made great strides towards eradicating the disease, the resurgence of vaccine-derived cases serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates. The last case of wild poliovirus was found in Nigeria in 2016. Since 2010, when the country’s last confirmed case of wild poliovirus was reported, Sierra Leone has improved its immunisation programmes and national disease surveillance system.
The government of Sierra Leone has demonstrated a strong commitment to the fight against polio, with the Ministry of Health providing strategic leadership in organising national and subnational polio vaccination campaigns. To guarantee widespread vaccination coverage, these initiatives have received backing from development partners and have been coordinated with those of other nations.
It is critical that the public follow vaccination recommendations and support initiatives to stop the disease’s spread as the nation attempts to contain the polio virus derived from vaccines. Through maintaining knowledge, adhering to immunisation protocols, and raising community consciousness, Sierra Leone can sustain its advancement in safeguarding the health and welfare of its populace.
