Progress of Polio Eradication in India, Current Risks & Actions taken on last IEAG report

1. Progress of Polio Eradication in India, Current Risks & Actions taken on last IEAG report 24th IEAG, New Delhi 15 March 2012 Dr. Ajay Khera Deputy Commissioner & Pubic Health Expert Child Health & Immunization Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Government of India

2. Progress of Polio Eradication in India • 1995: Polio SIAs launched • 1997: AFP Surveillance initiated • 1999: Last case of WPV 2 – (U.P) • 2001: 14 States and UTs free of polio • 2010: Last case of WPV 3 - (Jharkhand) • 2011: Last case of WPV 1 - (Howrah, West Bengal) • 2012: India removed from list of endemic countries 741 bOPV mOPV 1 42 1 P1 wild P3 wild

3. Year-wise result of AFP Surveillance system Spot map of VDPVs 2011-12 • 17 circulating Type 2 VDPVs in areas of low routine coverage in West UP in 2009-10 • No genetic linkage amongst 2011 VDPVs Data as on 7 March 2012

4. Wild Polio Virus in environmental (sewage) samples WPV3 WPV1 Mumbai Sewage samples collection sites Delhi Collection of sewage samples started from April 2010 • Patna & Kolkata sewage sample collection from 2011 • No WPVs isolated 2012* 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 * data as on 7 March 2012

5. Trends in Seroprevalence Against PoliovirusResults from Different Sero-surveys Confirms high immunity levels for all three sero-types in 2011 specially in high risk areas of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

6. Update on action points based on last IEAG recommendations • Intensive polio SIAs in the reservoir, amplification and migrant areas • Enhance routine immunization especially in high risk areas • Ensure outbreak preparedness plans • Roll out the new communication approach • Accelerate research for programmatic decisions • Enhance AFP and Laboratory surveillance • Initiate post eradication planning

7. 2011 2012 Action No. 1: Intensive Polio SIAs in 2011-12 NID SNID • 902 million doses of OPV administered in 2011 • Missed children varied from 0.3% to 7.8%

8. Average percent children found unimmunized by monitors during Polio SIAs in 2011 % unimmunized Source : Independent monitoring

9. Action No. 2: Intensifying Routine Immunization • Nationwide intensified RI campaigns planned • 2012-2013 declared as the Year of RI intensification • Immunization weeks initiated in Northeast states • RI monitoring intensified with special focus on high risk areas of UP, Bihar, West Bengal and Karnataka through WHO-NPSP • Proposal to modernize alternate vaccine delivery system • Supply chain management being revamped • Involvement of ASHA and Mother and child tracking system is proposed to be used for follow-up of children for vaccination.

10. Action No. 3: Focus on Migrants Populations Migrant populations of states with high migration Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat & West Bengal vaccinated during each SIA • 162,000 migrant sites identified in India • All migrant sites included in SIA microplans • ~ 4.2 million migrant children vaccinated in NID • Average 4.8% children (range: 3.9% to 6.2%) < 2 yrs missed in migrant sites, • Religious congregations also covered

11. Any polio case detected will be declared “a public health emergency” State Emergency Preparedness & Response Groups (EPRGs) constituted in all states Rapid response teams (RRTs) identified and trained Risk analysis in states ongoing, 207 poor performing districts States need to focus on improving surveillance & immunization in identified HR populations Action No 4: Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP)

12. Action No 5: Communication challenges & actions • Risk of decreased threat perception without WPV • Continued pocket of resistance in some areas in UP, Maharashtra and West Bengal - requires continued focus at local level • 3. Reporting of AFP cases as Polio - need to train Media • 4.Integrated IEC campaigns on RI and Polio • 5. New communications approach rolled out • 6. Sustained the SM network in UP & Bihar and consolidated in West Bengal UNICEF Polio Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan launches Communications campaign in December 2011 RI and convergence materials produced.

13. Action No. 6 : AFP and Environmental Surveillance Surveillance reviews conducted in Western UP, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Pakur in Jharkhand & Delhi Overall surveillance quality exceeds Global standards Non Polio AFP rate below 2 per 100,000 popn. < 15 yrs in parts of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh & Arunachal Pradesh Stool collection below 80% in some districts of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh & Orissa

14. NEPAL INDIA Action No. 7: Response to threat of importation from neighboring countries • Alerted states bordering Pakistan & China • Enhanced sensitivity of AFP surveillance in border districts, migrants and high risk areas • Continuous vaccination along Pakistan-India-Nepal border 5 vaccination posts ~1,400 children vaccinated from Sep 2011 to Feb 2012 86 vaccination posts >1.5 million children vaccinated from Apr 2011 to Feb 2012 PAKISTAN Vaccination post Blocks with vaccination post

15. Action No. 8 : Research to guide programme activities and measure progress • Seroprevalence surveys completed in UP and Bihar indicating high level of immunity in 2011 • Mucosal immunity study field operations completed in December 2011, results expected by July 2012 • 990 study subjects • assess levels of mucosal immunity • evaluate which Polio vaccine (IPV or bOPV) is more efficient in boosting mucosal immunity

16. Current Risks to Polio Eradication in India Complacency Risks due to VDPV International importation Risks Areas with low population immunity Gaps in AFP surveillance or delays in detection of WPV Delayed and / or inadequate response to importation

17. Program priorities for Polio Eradication in India Intensified surveillance for early detection Sustaining the quality of coverage in SIA including migrant and slum population Rapid and effective response to any Wild Polio virus detection Program Priorities Maintaining high level of acceptance of OPV by communities Routine immunization intensification with focus on pockets of low coverage Continued Multipronged strategy in 107 blocks of UP and Bihar

18. Summary • Country achieved longest ever polio free period • Routine Immunization strengthening is a key program priority at this juncture • Maintain the quality of coverage in NIDs and SNIDs • Threat of importation needs to be tackled by early detection and rapid mop-up response

19. Questions for the IEAG • What are the challenges that India is likely to face to maintain zero polio status until certification and beyond? • What lessons from other countries can be applied in India to protect the gains made so far? • What strategies should India follow from 2012 to 2014? • Is the isolation of VDPVs a concern for India? • How should India plan for the polio endgame strategy?

20. Thanks