Meeting to respond to the risk of polio re-entry as an outbreak is occurring in Laos.

This poses a serious threat to Vietnam's polio eradication achievements and those of the Western Pacific region, which has been recognized as a wild polio-free zone since 2000.

On the morning of December 12th, the Ministry of Health held an urgent nationwide online conference on polio prevention and control.

The conference took place against the backdrop of the World Health Organization (WHO) assessing Vietnam as being at very high risk of polio re-infection and reinfection. This stems from the fact that neighboring Laos officially declared a polio outbreak on October 7th, after detecting the genetically modified polio virus type 1 (cVDPV1).

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong emphasized the serious threat to Vietnam's polio eradication achievements and those of the Western Pacific region, which has been recognized as a wild polio-free zone since 2000.

Representatives from the WHO and the Department of Disease Prevention analyzed the factors that put Vietnam at very high risk of polio re-entry, such as: Epidemiological and geographical risks: The large movement of people between Vietnam and Laos, along with outbreaks occurring in border areas. In addition, there is an immunity gap as polio vaccination rates have not met targets in recent years, especially during epidemic years.

The WHO representative also noted that the spread of measles in 2024-2025 serves as a lesson showing that pathogens can spread from one country to many countries in a short period of time.

To address this risk, the Ministry of Health has issued several urgent directives, requiring localities to urgently review vaccination history and organize catch-up/supplementary polio vaccination (IPV, bOPV) for cases that have not received oral/injectable polio vaccine or have not received the full dose, especially in high-risk areas. Regular vaccination should be strengthened to ensure safety and effectiveness.

The Ministry of Health also requested that border provinces adjacent to Laos strengthen their leadership, focus on implementation, and coordinate closely with localities in Laos; and closely cooperate with institutes to develop polio prevention plans (34 out of 34 provinces have completed risk assessments).

The People's Committees of provinces and cities are directed to develop and implement the Plan for Responding to the Risk of Polio Invasion and Spread for the period 2025-2026; strengthen communication, recommendations, and ensure logistics and resources for disease prevention and control activities according to the "four on-the-spot" principle…/.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/hop-ung-pho-nguy-co-benh-bai-liet-tai-xam-nhap-khi-dang-bung-phat-tai-lao-post1082717.vnp