Publications by authors named "Fekadu Lemma"
Article Synopsis
- Angola reported its first poliomyelitis case in six years, involving circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), with a total of 141 cases across the country from 2019 to 2020, particularly in Luanda, Cuanza Sul, and Huambo.
- The spread of cVDPV2 followed five distinct genetic emergence groups linked to earlier cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a peak of 15 cases occurring in October 2019.
- Despite challenges in surveillance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, by May 2021, evidence indicated that Angola had successfully interrupted cVDPV2 transmission, but improvements in surveillance and response measures were needed for any future outbreaks.
Background: Growing conflict and insecurity played a major role in precipitating polio outbreaks in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East. In Angola, the early post-conflict situation was characterized by the presence of many inaccessible zones and districts due to insecurity and poor infrastructure. Partnership with the Angolan Army health service (AAHS) was one of the innovative strategies that the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) introduced into the country to support the polio vaccination campaigns in insecure and hard to reach zones.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF