Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: Eurosurveillance, full page: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
Eurosurveillance, Volume 19, Issue 7, 20 February 2014
Perspectives
Silent reintroduction of wild-type poliovirus to Israel, 2013 ? risk communication challenges in an argumentative atmosphere
E Kaliner <SUP>1</SUP>, J Moran-Gilad<SUP>1</SUP><SUP>,2</SUP>, I Grotto<SUP>1</SUP><SUP>,2</SUP>, E Somekh<SUP>3</SUP><SUP>,4</SUP>, E Kopel<SUP>1</SUP>, M Gdalevich<SUP>2</SUP><SUP>,5</SUP>, E Shimron<SUP>6</SUP>, Y Amikam<SUP>6</SUP>, A Leventhal<SUP>6</SUP>, B Lev<SUP>6</SUP>, R Gamzu<SUP>4</SUP><SUP>,6</SUP>
<SUP></SUP>
1Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel - 2 Faculty for Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel - 3 Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel - 4 Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel - 5 South District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Beer Sheva, Israel - 6 Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
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Citation style for this article: Kaliner E, Moran-Gilad J, Grotto I, Somekh E, Kopel E, Gdalevich M, Shimron E, Amikam Y, Leventhal A, Lev B, Gamzu R. Silent reintroduction of wild-type poliovirus to Israel, 2013 ? risk communication challenges in an argumentative atmosphere . Euro Surveill. 2014;19(7)
ii=20703. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20703
Date of submission: 01 October 2013
______
Israel has been certified as polio-free by the World Health Organization and its routine immunisation schedule consists of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) only. At the end of May 2013, the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed the reintroduction of wild-type poliovirus 1 into the country. Documented ongoing human-to-human transmission necessitated a thorough risk assessment followed by a supplemental immunisation campaign using oral polio vaccine (OPV). The unusual situation in which ongoing poliovirus transmission was picked up through an early warning system of sewage monitoring without active polio cases, brought about significant challenges in risk communication. This paper reviews the challenges faced by the MOH and the communication strategy devised, in order to facilitate and optimise the various components of the public health response, particularly vaccination. Lessons learned from our recent experience may inform risk communication approaches in other countries that may face a similar situation as global polio eradication moves towards the 'End game'.
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Eurosurveillance, Volume 19, Issue 7, 20 February 2014
Perspectives
Silent reintroduction of wild-type poliovirus to Israel, 2013 ? risk communication challenges in an argumentative atmosphere
E Kaliner <SUP>1</SUP>, J Moran-Gilad<SUP>1</SUP><SUP>,2</SUP>, I Grotto<SUP>1</SUP><SUP>,2</SUP>, E Somekh<SUP>3</SUP><SUP>,4</SUP>, E Kopel<SUP>1</SUP>, M Gdalevich<SUP>2</SUP><SUP>,5</SUP>, E Shimron<SUP>6</SUP>, Y Amikam<SUP>6</SUP>, A Leventhal<SUP>6</SUP>, B Lev<SUP>6</SUP>, R Gamzu<SUP>4</SUP><SUP>,6</SUP>
<SUP></SUP>
1Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel - 2 Faculty for Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel - 3 Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel - 4 Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel - 5 South District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Beer Sheva, Israel - 6 Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
_____
Citation style for this article: Kaliner E, Moran-Gilad J, Grotto I, Somekh E, Kopel E, Gdalevich M, Shimron E, Amikam Y, Leventhal A, Lev B, Gamzu R. Silent reintroduction of wild-type poliovirus to Israel, 2013 ? risk communication challenges in an argumentative atmosphere . Euro Surveill. 2014;19(7)
ii=20703. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20703 Date of submission: 01 October 2013
______
Israel has been certified as polio-free by the World Health Organization and its routine immunisation schedule consists of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) only. At the end of May 2013, the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed the reintroduction of wild-type poliovirus 1 into the country. Documented ongoing human-to-human transmission necessitated a thorough risk assessment followed by a supplemental immunisation campaign using oral polio vaccine (OPV). The unusual situation in which ongoing poliovirus transmission was picked up through an early warning system of sewage monitoring without active polio cases, brought about significant challenges in risk communication. This paper reviews the challenges faced by the MOH and the communication strategy devised, in order to facilitate and optimise the various components of the public health response, particularly vaccination. Lessons learned from our recent experience may inform risk communication approaches in other countries that may face a similar situation as global polio eradication moves towards the 'End game'.
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