Virus and rickettsial diseases: poliomyelitis [EM/RC11/R.11]

E M / k C l l / h . l l !be Regional Couunlttee, Having held t e c U c a l discussions on t he problem of poliomyelitis; Noting t h a t serological and virological surveys mde i n the l a s t few years i n a number of countries i n the Eastern Mediterranean Region have confirmed the high endemicity of the disease; Recognizing that the general methods of oontrol a s applied t o many infect ious diseases have been found t o be of l i t t l e ava i l i n the oontrol of poliomyelitis, and t h a t there is general agreement, a t present, t ha t act ive inmunization of t he susceptible population i n a coumunity is the only effect ive method of prevention and control of poliomyelitis; Considering that effect ive innunization against poliomyelitis i s possible today with e i t he r inactivated o r l i v e attenuated pol iovims vaccines; Realizing that l i v e attenuated poliovirus vaccine has t he advantage of being taken by mouth and there is a strong indication t h a t it gives a better, more complete and l a s t i ng i n a n i t y , t h a t it is eas ie r and cheaper t o adndnister, does not require par t icular ly well-developed medical organization o r great financial resources and i s therefore well-adapted t o countries of the Region; Recognizing, however, t h a t ce r ta in questions re la ted t o l i v e vaccine have not ye t been answered and a n u m b e r of problems have yet t o be solved before t he unlimited use of this l i v e vaccine can be recomnended, 1. COhWNEi the Regional Mrec tor on the comprehensive documentation submitted t o the Regional C o d t t e e i 2. REITERATES the importance of promoting the system of reporting poliomyelitis i n t he countries of the Region i n order t o have a t r u e picture of t he epidendological s i tuat ion; 3. RECO- t h a t i n countries where poliomyelitis const i tutes a serious public heal th problem, and where i n t e r e s t i s expressed i n the poss ib i l i ty of developing innunization campaigns with l i v e attenuated poliovirus vaccine well-organized virological and serological services of high technical cal ibre should be established before embarking on any mass vaccination campaign; 4. REC0MMWLI.S t h a t countries whlch have introduced t he inactivated vaccine f o r ths imrunlzation of t h e i r in fan ts and young children should continue f o r the time being t o use this vacoine u n t i l it becomes possible t o s h i f t t o l i v e attermated poliovirus vaccine; 5. REWESTS the Regional Mrector: i. t o a s s i s t Member S ta tes which express t h e i r i n t e r e s t i n launching l i v e attenuated poliovirus vaccination campaiigis, with the development of the virological and serological services required f o r these campaigns; ii. t o co l lec t information on a l l the advances made and the s tudies undertaken on the various questions re la ted t o the l i v e attenuated poliovirus vaccine t ha t have s t i l l t o be anmered. August 1961