Two months on, Meghalaya polio case shrouded in secrecy

Sub : Sci

Sec: Health

Background:

In 2017, the Indian government faced criticism for covering up Zika virus cases.
Recently, there has been hesitance in disclosing details about a polio case detected in Meghalaya.
Also, officials have gave conflicting statements about the case, raising concerns about the management and reporting of public health information in India.

Vaccine-derived polio:

Vaccine-derived poliovirus is a strain of poliovirus mutated from the strain originally contained in Oral Polio vaccine.
OPV contains a live, weakened form of poliovirus that replicates in the intestine for a limited period, thereby developing immunity by building up antibodies.
In rare cases, when replicating in the gastrointestinal tract, OPV strains can genetically change and may spread in communities that are not fully vaccinated against polio, especially in areas where there is poor hygiene, poor sanitation, or overcrowding.

Type of Vaccine-derived polio:

Immunodeficiency related vaccine-derived poliovirus (iVDPV):
- In the case of iVDPV, polio is caused in an immune deficient individual.
- Unlike the general population, these individuals can shed the weakened virus for extended periods, creating a risk for transmission.
Circulating vaccine-derived polio (cVDVP):
- cVDPV is a strain of poliovirus that arises from the weakened virus used in the OPV.
- It has mutated and regained the ability to cause disease and can circulate among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated populations.