title: [From the goal of the global eradication of polio to the recent epidemics: reflections on the present epidemiological situation and future perspectives].
abstract: The recent epidemic of polio caused by the Wilde Virus which during last spring seriously hit Tagikistan, has now caused a crisis in the polio free situation of the European Region of the OMS. In addition, considering that there has been a sudden epidemic in Congo with a shift of the age of the first infection towards adolescents/adults and an unexpected death-to-case rate, it is worth reconsidering the risk of importing the Wild Virus into countries already polio-free. In consideration of the fact that Italy is a Country at high risk for importing polioviruses we analyzed the literature of the immunologic coverage of the virus in Italy, in order to verify the rationale for the administration of a fifth dose of polio vaccine to adolescents, what has already been introduced into the vaccination calendar in other European Countries such as United Kingdom, France and Germany.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Sapienza Università di Roma. anna.patti@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Patti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003223:Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D060740:Disease Eradication / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D014943:Global Health; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000639:trends*; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013620:Tajikistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral