Surveillance of wild Poliovirus in the Americas

ABSTRACT

The Pan American Health Organization's (PAHO) initiative to eradicate the transmission of the wild poliovirus from the Americas has required extensive labaratory support. Virologic studies are necessary to confirm suspected cases of poliomyelitis, to identify cases associated with wild polioviruses, to help guide control activities to areas requiring reinforced efforts, and finally to provide evidence that endenic poliovirus transmission has been stopped. Close integration of field and laboratory operations has been the cornerstone of the PAHO Polio Eradication Initiative. This report describes the results of the wild poliovirus isolation for 1989 and the first ten months of 1990 (AU)