OUTBREAKS OF PARALYTIC POLIOMYELITIS AND POLIO SURVEILLANCE IN SHANDONG PROVINCE OF CHINA

Widespread outbreaks of paralytic poliomyelitis occurred in Shandong p rovince, China, starting from 1988. In 1989, 484 cases were recorded, which was the peak during the past 4 years. Although emergency immuniz ation with trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) was carried out in selected counties in 1989 and 1990, control of the outbreak was not sa tisfactory. OPV mass immunization campaigns were introduced to cover t he whole province in early 1991, and the number of patients with paral ytic poliomyelitis decreased to 95. In addition to this new immunizati on strategy, we began to construct new polio surveillance systems. The se were a network for case-negative reporting and an immediate reporti ng system of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). As for the case-negative r eporting, presently more than 90% of counties have been reporting pres ence or absence of new AFP cases. Monitoring of AFP immediate reportin g has also shown a gradual improvement in several aspects. These polio surveillance activities are crucial to polio eradication programme ma nagement.