[Poliomyelitis eradication initiative. Search for and control of wild poliovirus stored at Spanish laboratories].

Introduction: An initiative to achieve global eradication of poliomyelitis was proposed in 1988. Since then, World Health Organization (WHO) efforts have been focused on reaching and maintaining high vaccination coverage and on implementing effective surveillance systems. Additionally, since 1998 the WHO has urged health authorities from countries over the world to locate and control the wild polioviruses stored in laboratories as well as potentially infectious materials that could contain these viruses or originate them under particular circumstances.

Methods: In Spain the Wild Poliovirus Containment Plan was initiated in 1999. All Spanish laboratories were inventoried and a specially designed questionnaire was distributed to them. The responses were analyzed.

Results: A total of 3209 laboratories were surveyed and 10 of them were found to contain infectious or potentially infectious material with wild poliovirus. The heads of these laboratories were informed about the Containment Plan and were requested to destroy this material under proper conditions. The laboratories that did not destroy the viruses adopted the BSL2/polio bio-safety measures.

Conclusion: Despite its complexity, the search process was completed within the schedule established by the WHO, thanks to the efforts of health authorities from the Autonomous Communities. Spain reported its results to the WHO Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication in May 2002.