Why is WHO cagey about publishing Meghalaya polio case details

Sub : Sci

Sec: Human Health

Context:

The Meghalaya polio case involving a two-year-old boy has raised concerns about information transparency from health authorities, including the WHO.

Key Details of the Meghalaya Polio Case:

Initial Detection: The boy from West Garo Hills district in Meghalaya displayed polio symptoms in early August.
On August 12, the ICMR-NIV Mumbai lab confirmed it as a type-1 vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV). The results were shared with India’s Health Ministry, the Meghalaya government, and the WHO.
CDC Confirmation: The CDC Atlanta also confirmed the type 1 VDPV.
Immunological Profile: Follow-up tests by ICMR-NIV revealed the child’s immune profile was normal, ruling out an immunodeficiency-related VDPV (iVDPV).
Cause: The polio resulted from a mutation in the weakened type-1 virus strain used in the oral polio vaccine. The child, who was not fully immunized, contracted polio, but there was no evidence of the virus circulating in the community.

Delay in Public Announcement by WHO and GPEI:

Despite having details of the case by August 12, neither the WHO nor the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has published an official statement.

Comparisons with Previous Cases:

Global Response Time:
- Israel (2022): GPEI announced a type-3 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV3) case 10 days after it was detected in an unvaccinated child.
- U.S. (2022): A type-2 VDPV case in New York was announced by GPEI within three days after CDC was notified.
WHO Response Time:
- WHO’s Disease Outbreak News took 45 and 38 days to report the cases in Israel and the U.S., respectively, in 2022.
- Zika Case in Gujarat (2017): WHO reported three Zika virus cases in Gujarat 11 days after being informed, despite limited circulation of the virus at the time.

Concerns Raised

Lack of Transparency: The delay by WHO and GPEI contrasts with their faster response in similar cases worldwide.
Public Health Communication: Questions arise about WHO’s adherence to its stated commitment to quickly disseminate information on acute public health events per the International Health Regulations (2005).

Polio Virus:

Poliovirus is highly infectious, primarily affecting children under 5.
Transmitted through contaminated water/food (fecal-oral route)
Most infections (72%) are asymptomatic
Can cause paralysis in about 1/200 infections by attacking the nervous system
Three serotypes: Type 1, 2, and 3 (Type 2 and 3 have been eradicated globally)

Polio Vaccines:

Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus (VDPV):

Rare cases where the weakened virus in OPV mutates and regains virulence
Occurs in under-immunized populations
Takes 12-18 months of circulation to become virulent
Three types:

Prevention of VDPV:

Global Strategy: