Keeping polio free status in area bordering Myanmar in Yunnan province, 2005-2009

Objective To evaluate performance of keeping polio free status in the area bordering Myanmar in Yunnan province and provide evidence for the improvement of the effects to keep polio free status. Methods The data on acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance, OPV supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) and polio virus detection in stools of healthy Myanmar children who entered into China were analyzed. Results From 2005 to 2009, 212 AFP cases were reported in 6 prefectures bordering Myanmar, Poliomyelitis was excluded for all the cases, the annual average AFP reporting rate was 2.03/lakh in children aged15 years. The survey rate of AFP cases within 48 hours after reporting was 98.60%, The collection rate of 2 stool samples within 14 days of onset were 83.97%, the adequate stool samples accounted for 81.15%. The transfer rate of stool samples within 7 days was 92.88% and the timely follow up rate was 77.64%. The isolation rates of polio virus and non-polio enteric virus were 2.40% and 9.60% respectively for the AFP cases and 3.74% and 13.79% for the children from Myanmar respectively, Eight rounds OPV SIAs were conducted during this period and 3.5 million children were immunized Conclusion It is necessary to strengthen the AFP surveillance, routine OPV immunization and OPV SIA in border area to block the introduction of wild polio virus and keep polio free status.