Study on strategies and effects of eradicating poliomyelitis in Huaian

  Objective   To assess the effect of strategies used in eradicating poliomyelitis in Huaian.

  Methods   To describe the trend and features of incidence of poliomyelitis in Huaian.

  Results   Introduction of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) in 1963 had a dramatic effect on controlling an extensive epidemic of poliomyelitis; the total burden of poliomyelitis was reduced since 1980s and no more cases of polio myelitis were found since 1995.The basic control strategies used to eradicate poliomyelitis included: routine immunization of children aged under one year old with at least three doses of oral poliovaccine (OPV); all children aged under 4 years old were given two extra doses of OP Von two days separated by one month; surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) to identify all reservoirs of wild poliovirus transmission.

  Conclusion   The transmission of wild poliovirus was controlled in Huaian. After the eradication of poliomyelitis, the immunization strategies should be adjusted.