Articles tagged with Polio
Experts warn that a Syria polio outbreak could spread to Europe if vaccination coverage is low, particularly in Bosnia, Ukraine, and Austria. High hygiene standards and large refugee populations are key to preventing transmission.
The articles highlight the need for a shift away from leader-centric approaches and towards building trust with communities, prioritizing routine health services, and supporting frontline female health workers. This includes increasing investment and time to achieve stronger health systems and universal immunization in these countries.
Researchers found that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) improved sleep quality and reduced fatigue symptoms in patients with post-polio syndrome. The treatment, applied for 15 days, showed significant improvements in physical functioning and social functioning, as well as a decrease in depression scores.
Researchers report progress in Pakistan's efforts to eradicate polio, with the potential elimination of one type of wild poliovirus. However, vaccine refusals remain a major challenge, driven by false rumors and misinformation. In Nigeria, a surge in cases threatens to re-infect countries that have already been cleared of polio.
Researchers at University of Leeds discover crucial stage in virus lifecycle where RNA folds to fit into protein shell. This process could lead to novel anti-viral drugs less susceptible to resistance.
A new study found that sharp declines in vaccine uptake led to an increase in polio cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The introduction of more effective vaccines has proven ineffective without sufficient coverage, highlighting the need for improved vaccination programs to eradicate polio globally.
Insufficient vaccination coverage, particularly in insecure regions, is preventing the elimination of polio in Pakistan and Afghanistan. A new study suggests that introducing bivalent oral poliovirus vaccines could eliminate polio if sufficient numbers of children are reached by vaccination programs.
Despite significant progress, polio eradication remains complex due to asymptomatic infections and vaccine limitations. Experts emphasize the need for further research on virus-host interactions and vaccine usage in the final stages of the program.
A Tel Aviv University researcher warns that live virus polio vaccine evolution can continue to threaten global eradication efforts. The expert recommends maintaining herd immunity, environmental surveillance, and switching to inactivated vaccines.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology are developing microneedle patches to administer polio vaccine, which could eliminate the need for trained personnel and refrigeration. The project aims to provide data to justify human trials and make vaccination more accessible in remote areas.
A predictive model of polio outbreaks in Africa was developed using outbreak data from 2003-2010. The model indicates that continued transmission in Nigeria and other countries, as well as poor immunization status, are the main causes of polio outbreaks in Africa.
A novel vaccine technology using genetically engineered tobacco and lettuce plants could revolutionize the production of vaccines. The new method is expected to be more effective, safer, and cheaper than current methods, making it potentially life-saving for people in developing countries.
A new type of vaccine is being developed that can trick the body into developing immunity against polio, with no risk of causing or spreading the disease. The replica virus particle will be designed to look and behave like the real virus but contain no genetic material.
A new study estimates that the global polio eradication initiative could provide net economic benefits of at least US$40-50 billion if transmission of wild polioviruses is interrupted within the next five years. The study found that investments made since 1988 and anticipated through 2035 will prevent over 8 million cases of paralytic ...
A new bivalent oral vaccine against poliovirus types 1 and 3 has been found to be more immunogenic than current vaccines, inducing a stronger immune response in newborn babies. The vaccine's effectiveness is comparable to that of the existing monovalent and trivalent vaccines, offering enhanced immunity for both virus types.
A new study has shown that a vaccine-derived strain of poliovirus can be as easily transmitted and likely to cause severe disease as wild-type poliovirus. Vaccination with trivalent OPV is highly effective in preventing paralysis by this serotype 2 cVDPV, making it crucial for efforts to eradicate polio continue.
The rapidly growing polio outbreak in Tajikistan poses a significant threat to global health, with the World Health Organization and Canadian authorities urging immediate action to boost vaccination rates. Low uptake rates in regions like Ontario and Europe have contributed to the crisis.
The eradication of smallpox achieved significant public good with lives saved and prevented. Similarly, completing polio eradication is justified by moral obligations to prevent harm and protect future generations. The authors argue that finishing the job is an ethical imperative due to the capacity and opportunity to do so.
Eliminating polio requires global cooperation on lowering vaccine costs and strengthening surveillance. Experts argue that coordinated efforts are necessary to succeed in eradicating the disease.
A study found that vaccine records of internationally adopted children may not guarantee immunity against diseases such as polio, measles, and hepatitis B. The predictive value of immunization records is limited and associated with birth country, due to reasons like falsification, inaccurate entries, and lack of vaccine potency.
A recently introduced polio vaccine is four times more effective at protecting children than previous vaccines, offering a potential path to eliminating type 1 polio in Nigeria. However, many more children need to be immunised against polio if the virus is to be eliminated.
A new study by Harvard researchers suggests that eradicating polio is a more cost-effective option than maintaining control of the disease. The analysis found that eradication would ultimately result in lower cumulative costs and cases compared to control, despite initial high costs.
In Nigeria's 2003 polio vaccination campaign, Muslim religious leaders in three northern states boycotted the campaign citing mistrust of Western medicine. The boycott led to new polio cases in Nigeria. Ayodele Samuel Jegede suggests examining this event within historical and political contexts.
A new study by Harvard researchers estimates that US polio vaccination has saved over $180 billion in medical costs, preventing approximately 1.1 million cases of paralytic polio and 160,000 deaths between 1955 and 2005.
A study published in Science suggests that the standard trivalent vaccine is not effective in poor sanitation and high population density states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where polio persists. Using a monovalent vaccine may boost efficacy and help eradicate the virus.
Progress has been made in reducing polio cases, but four countries remain endemic and the disease has re-emerged in others. Sustained education efforts on vaccination benefits are key to eradicating polio.
Researchers found that childhood polio survivors do not experience significant declines in strength as they age, with only moderate increases in weakness. The study suggests that polio survivors may not age differently than the general population and can expect years of stability without major lifestyle modifications.
A 2004 China polio outbreak caused by vaccine-derived virus was identified and controlled after a province-wide immunization campaign. The outbreak occurred in an area with lower vaccination rates, highlighting the risk of vaccine-derived poliovirus emergence in pockets of low coverage.
Researchers found that two doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) provided similar immunity to one dose of the live virus vaccine. However, IPV's mucosal immunity was less effective than OPV's. The study suggests that HPV-immunized communities are partially protected from poliovirus spread.
A US policy shift to inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) reduced vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) cases, with no reported cases after 2000. The elimination of VAPP marks an important public health accomplishment, but ongoing high vaccination coverage and surveillance remain crucial.
A study by Duke University Medical Center found that Coxsackievirus A21 can cause polio-like symptoms in genetically engineered mice, as it bypasses the usual nasal cavity route and infects muscle cells instead. The findings have significant implications for the understanding of viral behavior and potential vaccine development.
Researchers created a modified poliovirus that targets and destroys cancer cells in the brain, but spares normal brain tissue. The virus uses a rhinovirus genetic element to trigger gene expression in cancer cells, but malfunctions in normal neurons due to lack of co-factors.
A study found that a new immunization regimen requiring up to four injections at one visit does not decrease vaccination rates despite increasing the risk of adverse reactions. The authors credit parental acceptance and safer vaccine versions for the sustained coverage levels.