22nd August 2024 (11 Topics)

Copy

1 Aug

2 Aug

3 Aug

5 Aug

6 Aug

7 Aug

8 Aug

9 Aug

10 Aug

12 Aug

13 Aug

14 Aug

15 Aug

16 Aug

17 Aug

19 Aug

20 Aug

21 Aug

22 Aug

23 Aug

24 Aug

26 Aug

27 Aug

28 Aug

29 Aug

30 Aug

31 Aug

Rare case of vaccine-derived polio in Meghalaya

Context

A case of vaccine-derived polio (VDPV) has been confirmed in a two-year-old child from West Garo district, Meghalaya. Although polio was declared eradicated in India in 2011, the emergence of vaccine-derived polio in an immuno-deficient child (iVDPV) has raised concerns about the continued use of the oral polio vaccine (OPV).

What is Vaccine-Derived Polio?

Poliomyelitis, or polio, is a highly infectious viral disease that can lead to paralysis and even death.
It is caused by the poliovirus, which exists in three types: wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), type 2 (WPV2), and type 3 (WPV3).
India’s success in eradicating WPV1 and WPV3 is notable, but the presence of vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) indicates ongoing risks.
VDPV arises from the oral polio vaccine (OPV), which contains a weakened form of the poliovirus.
While OPV has been crucial in reducing global polio cases, it carries a rare risk of causing vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) in approximately 1 in 2.7 million doses.
In immuno-deficient individuals, the weakened virus can persist and mutate into a form that may cause polio, known as
- The recent case in Meghalaya is classified as iVDPV, a form of polio that occurs in individuals with primary immunodeficiency (PID), who cannot effectively clear the virus from their systems.

OPV vs IPV:

Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV): Administered orally, OPV induces immune responses in both the blood and the intestines. This dual immunity helps prevent the virus from spreading in communities with high vaccination coverage. However, in areas with low vaccination rates, the vaccine-derived virus can continue to circulate, mutate, and potentially cause polio.
Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV): IPV, given via injection, contains inactivated poliovirus that cannot replicate. It generates a strong immune response in the blood, preventing paralysis. However, it is less effective at inducing immunity in the intestines, meaning individuals can still carry and potentially transmit the wild poliovirus.
- The switch to IPV, which has been introduced in India since 2017, aims to mitigate the risks associated with OPV. IPV’s inability to cause VAPP or iVDPV makes it a safer alternative, though it may require higher coverage to achieve similar community immunity.

Fact Box: About Poliomyelitis (Polio)

Poliomyelitis, commonly called polio, is a highly infectious disease caused by the poliomyelitis virus.
It largely affects children under 5 years of age.
The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis.
There are three wild-types of poliovirus that cause the disease:
- Wild Poliovirus 1 (WP1)
- Wild Poliovirus 2 (WP2)
- Wild Poliovirus 3 (WP3)
Of the 3 strains, WP 2 was eradicated in 1999 and WP 3 was eradicated in 2020. As at 2022, endemic wild poliovirus type 1 remains in two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent polio. There’s no cure for polio.
Key government initiatives for polio eradication in India:
- Pulse Polio Immunization Campaigns
- Universal Immunization Program (UIP)
- Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) Introduction
- Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) Surveillance
- Environmental Surveillance
- Health Education and Community Engagement
- Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Participation
- National Policy on Polio Eradication
- Legislative Support for Vaccination
- Response to Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus (VDPV)

Delhi to Kyiv through Warsaw

International Relations India’s Foreign Policy

Moral pressure and human rights compliance

Polity & Governance Governance

Power play: On hydropower projects and the environment

Ecology and Environment Miscellaneous

India_Poland Relations

International Relations India’s Foreign Policy

Legal Framework Governing Pornography and Sex Toys in India

Polity & Governance Governance

The Case of Caste Census

Polity & Governance Governance

E-Commerce, A Double-Edged Sword

Economy Economic Sectors

Debate on Employment Data in India

Economy Poverty and Unemployment

NASA's Starliner Delay

Science & Technology Space

Mysore Dasara

History Art and culture

GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Rare case of vaccine-derived polio in Meghalaya

What is Vaccine-Derived Polio?

OPV vs IPV:

Fact Box: About Poliomyelitis (Polio)

User Login

User Register

Forgot Password

Verify Your Mobile Number