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Burundi | Africa | News Minute
Burundi confirms polio outbreak in the Country blamed on new oral vaccine
Saturday, 18 March 2023
By: TB Obwoge
Burundi (country in East Africa) has confirmed the spread of polio in the country. As well as claims that there are more cases around the world that have yet to be declared by WHO (World Health Organization)
An outbreak hasn’t been seen in the area for many years. The outbreak is being blamed on the oral vaccines being used in African countries.
A Twitter user pointed out that according to WHO there are no active polio cases reported any place around the world.
Outbreak of Polio Linked to Newer Oral Vaccine Detected in Africa
— First cases reported from nOPV2, but not completely unexpected, says polio eradication grou
For the first time, cases of paralytic polio have been linked to the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), with multiple cases detected in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) announcedopens in a new tab or window on Thursday.
Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) was found in stool samples from seven children with acute flaccid paralysis in the DRC and Burundi. Cases were confirmed in an unvaccinated 4-year-old boy living in western Burundi and two other children who were in contact with the boy, as well as in five wastewater samples collected in Burundi, according to a press releaseopens in a new tab or window from the World Health Organization (WHO).
GPEI said they will be supporting local authorities in the two nations “and neighboring countries to conduct a thorough risk assessment and plan vaccination…
