The Ghana Ministry of Health has declared the discovery of a circulating type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) in an environmental sample taken in the Eastern regional capital of Koforidua.
The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research’s Polio Laboratory uncovered the finding while conducting normal surveillance.
The poliovirus was detected in a sample taken on August 20, and the virus’s identification as cVDPV2 was verified on September 5, according to a news statement sent by Health Minister Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye on Tuesday, September 17.
Dr Okoe-Boye described the detection as a “public health emergency” and stressed the need for swift action to prevent the virus from spreading.
In response, the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health have begun fieldwork to determine the infection’s potential origins and evaluate the likelihood of additional geographic spread, including to people. To keep a careful eye on the issue, more sophisticated monitoring techniques have also been implemented.
The ministry has asked the public to take preventative actions as part of the response, including better handwashing, following hygienic procedures, and making sure to use bathrooms or dispose of waste safely.
To improve immunity, parents are also urged to make sure their kids finish their immunization program.
