117th Session Agenda item 4.4
EB117.R1 24 January 2006
Eradication of poliomyelitis The Executive Board, Having considered the report on eradication of poliomyelitis,1 RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-ninth World Health Assembly the adoption of the following resolution: The Fifty-ninth World Health Assembly, Having considered the report on eradication of poliomyelitis; Recalling the 2004 Geneva Declaration for the Eradication of Poliomyelitis, committing the six countries in which poliomyelitis is endemic and spearheading partners to interrupting the final chains of poliovirus transmission through intensified poliomyelitis immunization campaigns; Recognizing that the occurrence of poliomyelitis is increasingly rare due to the intensification of poliomyelitis eradication activities globally, and that all Member States are enhancing surveillance for the detection of circulating polioviruses and are in the process of implementing biocontainment activities; Noting the significant support extended by partners, appreciating their ongoing cooperation, and calling for their continuing support to national programmes in the final phase of the global eradication effort; Noting that most of the new cases have come from areas where transmission of indigenous polioviruses had already been stopped; Noting that poliovirus importations into poliomyelitis-free areas constitute potential international health threats; Recalling the standing recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Poliomyelitis Eradication,2
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Document EB117/4. Weekly Epidemiological Record, 2004, 79(32): 289-291; 2005, 80(38): 330-331, and 2005, 80(47): 410-416.
EB117.R1
1. URGES Member States in which poliomyelitis is endemic to foster their commitment to interrupting transmission of wild-type poliovirus with the administration of appropriate monovalent oral poliomyelitis vaccines; 2. URGES all poliomyelitis-free Member States to respond rapidly to the detection of circulating poliovirus by: (1) conducting an initial investigation, activating local responses and requesting international expert risk assessment within 72 hours of confirmation of the index case in order to establish an emergency plan of action; (2) implementing a minimum of three large-scale rounds of immunization using a type-specific monovalent oral poliomyelitis vaccine, including, where applicable, houseto-house vaccination, the first round being conducted within four weeks of confirmation of the index case, with an interval of four weeks between subsequent rounds; (3) targeting all children aged less than five years in the affected and adjacent geographical areas, using independent monitoring to determine whether at least 95% immunization coverage has been reached; (4) ensuring that at least two full rounds of poliomyelitis immunization are conducted in the targeted area after the most recent detection of poliovirus; 3. REQUESTS the Director-General: (1) to ensure the availability of technical expertise to support Member States in their planning and emergency response related to an outbreak; (2) to assist in mobilizing funds to implement emergency response to an outbreak and ensure adequate supplies of monovalent oral poliomyelitis vaccine; (3) to advise at-risk Member States, on the basis of each risk assessment, on which, if any, additional measures are required nationally and internationally to reduce the further spread of poliovirus, taking into account the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Polio Eradication; (4) to report to the Executive Board at its 119th session on progress made in the implementation of this resolution.
Fourth meeting, 24 January 2006 EB117/SR/4
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