Wednesday 3 January 2024, 7.15am
Currently, the polio epidemic has begun to spread again in many countries. Compared to the past where more than 99% of cases were successfully eradicated, the latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) for 2021-2022 reported that epidemics of the WPV1 poliovirus strain have been found in Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, while cases of spread of mutated vaccine strains of poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) were reported in Indonesia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Israel in 2022. People infected with poliovirus cause inflammation of the spinal cord. and paralysis of the limb muscles, which is found in many countries. Subsequently, for many years there were no more reports of polio cases. As a result, medical and public health agencies in Thailand fear that this epidemic may spread to other ASEAN countries, including Thailand.
Associate Prof. (Special) Dr. Thawee Chot Pittayasunon President of Influenza Education Foundation and Committee Member of Thailand Pediatric Infectious Diseases Association Provide information on World Immunization Day 2023 (or World Immunization Day of immunization 2023) that polio, also known as paralysis of the limbs, is caused by the polio virus which destroys the nervous system, causing paralysis, disability, breathing difficulties and ultimately death. Symptoms of polio virus infection vary greatly, with over 95% showing no symptoms at all, 1-2% showing only mild or flu-like symptoms, while 1-2% will exhibit symptoms of meningitis such as severe headaches. Neck pain, stiff neck, tiredness, dizziness, but can still recover normally (luckily), while the last group of patients is the most severe. It is rare, about 1 in 500 to 1,000 people are infected with the polio virus. There will be symptoms of muscle weakness. Acute and permanent paralysis occurs, unable to return to normal (unfortunate)
Polio is more common in children than in adults. And it is often found in children under 5 years of age. The infection can be easily transmitted from one person to another if the infected person does not yet have immunity. It can be transmitted by ingesting or inhaling germs into the body. The germs escape into throat secretions when the patient coughs or sneezes. or comes out in the feces and enters the body of others through the mouth. It then spreads to others through swallowing germs that get stuck in the throat from breathing or swallowing water. or food contaminated with the polio virus
After the polio virus enters the body of a person who does not have immunity, the virus multiplies in the pharynx and intestines and within 2-3 days spreads to the lymph nodes in the throat, tonsils and intestines. and enters the bloodstream causing fever in the patient. A small percentage of the virus passes directly from the bloodstream to the spinal cord and brain. or some may pass through the spinal cord via nerves. And if the virus has entered the spinal cord, the infection then destroys motor neurons that control various muscle functions. Both smooth muscles (It is a muscle of an internal organ that can function on its own without being under the control of the brain, such as the cardiac muscle. intestinal muscles) and skeletal muscles (Muscles of the arms and legs) causing the weakening or paralysis of these muscles.
Associate Prof. (Special) Dr. Thawee Emphasizes that polio is a disease that has no cure. But it can be prevented with vaccination. This is a basic and essential vaccine that every child should receive. Parents should be careful to bring their children to receive the polio vaccine according to the specified schedule. There are two types of polio vaccine: an oral type (oral polio vaccine: OPV), which is a live vaccine, and an injectable type (inactivated polio vaccine: IPV), which is a killed vaccine. The Ministry of Public Health provided policies and clarifications on the collaborative project to promote polio eradication in line with international commitments. Testing the polio vaccine, formula 2 IPV + 3 OPV, at the Provincial Public Health Office and related bodies.
More recently, the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health has provided policies and clarified cooperative projects to promote the eradication of polio in line with international commitments. Testing the polio vaccine, 2 IPV + 3 OPV formula, at provincial public health offices and related agencies across the country. Effective July 1, 2023 as follows: It is recommended that 2 doses of injectable polio vaccine (IPV) be given when children are 2 and 4 months of age, as well as 3 doses of oral or injectable polio vaccine (OPV). 6 months, 18 months and 4 years
Because both types of polio vaccine can stimulate good immunity. and is highly effective in preventing polio by oral polio vaccine. It is a live attenuated vaccine. Made up of strains 1 and 3, they mimic natural infections. It causes the body to build local immunity on the throat and intestinal mucosa quickly and for a long time. While the injectable polio vaccine IS a killed vaccine. Immunity cannot be created immediately after the injection. But it can cover all strains 1, 2, 3, especially the CvdPV2 strain which is still contaminated in the environment. Also, the injectable vaccine does not cause VAPP (vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis) or the weakened condition caused by the infection from polio virus. from oral vaccines which is a condition rarely found. But in the long term it affects the quality of life of children. The incidence rate is 1 in every 900,000 people who receive the first OPV vaccine and decreases 25-fold with subsequent OPV vaccinations. Such weakness does not occur in people who receive the polio vaccine. It is expected that in the next 10 to 15 years the use of oral polio vaccine may be discontinued. However, the edible type can be used as a carpet spray in the event of a polio virus outbreak.
Although currently Thailand has not recorded cases of polio for a long time. But the polio strain cVDPV2 still infects the environment of neighboring Thailand. Therefore, care should be taken to avoid exposure to polio. Maintaining strict hygiene It is recommended that all Thai children receive the polio vaccine according to the established vaccination schedule according to the formula 2 IPV + 3 OPV throughout the country, including those who have not received the injectable vaccine. or still not immune to the cVDPV2 strain because if vaccination coverage in vaccine-preventable diseases is lower than the specified threshold It could cause the disease to return and spread.
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