title: Poliomyelitis outbreak in Natal/KwaZulu, South Africa, 1987-1988. 2. Immunity aspects.
abstract: An extensive poliomyelitis outbreak due to type 1 poliovirus took place in Natal/KwaZulu, South Africa, in 1987-1988, causing 412 paralytic cases. This epidemic differed from a previously described outbreak in Gazankulu, South Africa, in 1982 in that it occurred against a background of relatively good immunity. Thus, only 12% of patients lacked antibodies to types 2 and 3, indicating lack of previous immunization, and 76% of healthy children sampled in the epidemic area had serological immunity to all 3 types of poliovirus. The occurrence of extensive outbreaks in relatively well-immunized communities emphasizes the need to maximize herd immunity and reduce reservoirs of infection in the gut and in the environment, which can be achieved only with oral polio vaccine.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Virology, University of the Witwatersrand, Sandringham, South Africa.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Schoub
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McAnerney
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Middelkoop
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kustner
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Windsor
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vinsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McDonald
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral