Evaluation of the Intensive Acute Flaccid Paralysis Surveillance System in Ghana: Post the Switch from tOPV to bOPV

Evangeline Obodai; Jessica Dufie Boakye; Nana Afia Asante Ntim; Gayheart Deladem Agbotse; Comfort Nuamah Antwi; Ewurabena Oduma Duker; Sharon Ansong Bimpong; Deborah Odame; Patience Lartekai Adams; Josephine Nayan; Jude Yayra Mensah; Angelina Evelyn Dickson; Keren Attiku; Isaac Baffoe-Nyarko; Dennis Laryea; John Kofi Odoom

doi:10.3390/tropicalmed9110271

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (Nov 2024)

Evaluation of the Intensive Acute Flaccid Paralysis Surveillance System in Ghana: Post the Switch from tOPV to bOPV

Evangeline Obodai,
Jessica Dufie Boakye,
Nana Afia Asante Ntim,
Gayheart Deladem Agbotse,
Comfort Nuamah Antwi,
Ewurabena Oduma Duker,
Sharon Ansong Bimpong,
Deborah Odame,
Patience Lartekai Adams,
Josephine Nayan,
Jude Yayra Mensah,
Angelina Evelyn Dickson,
Keren Attiku,
Isaac Baffoe-Nyarko,
Dennis Laryea,
John Kofi Odoom

Affiliations

Evangeline Obodai: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
Jessica Dufie Boakye: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
Nana Afia Asante Ntim: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
Gayheart Deladem Agbotse: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
Comfort Nuamah Antwi: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
Ewurabena Oduma Duker: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
Sharon Ansong Bimpong: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
Deborah Odame: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
Patience Lartekai Adams: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
Josephine Nayan: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
Jude Yayra Mensah: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
Angelina Evelyn Dickson: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
Keren Attiku: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
Isaac Baffoe-Nyarko: Disease Surveillance Department, Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Accra P.O. Box M 44, Ghana
Dennis Laryea: Disease Surveillance Department, Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Accra P.O. Box M 44, Ghana
John Kofi Odoom: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9110271
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 11
p. 271

Abstract

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The Global Polio Eradication Initiative was adopted by Ghana in 1996, and through robust AFP surveillance was able to interrupt the circulation of wild poliovirus in 2008. However, the country suffered vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in 2019 and 2022. We conducted a retrospective analysis of all AFP surveillance data received by the polio program in Ghana from 2018 to 2022. An analysis of the WHO performance indicators for evaluating a surveillance system was conducted using Epi Info 3.5.4 and Microsoft Excel. Of the 4832 cases investigated, 56.3% were males, 71.1% comprised children aged 5 years and below, and more than half (65.2%) had received a maximum of three doses of OPV. Over 77% (3028) had a fever at the onset of paralysis, and 67.8% had paralysis progression within 3 days. The non-polio AFP rate of ≥2 and the stool adequacy rate exceeded the target of ≥80% in nearly every study year. The proportion of non-polio enteroviruses isolated surpassed the target of ≥10% in all years except 2018. The AFP surveillance system in Ghana is sensitive and representative. Though the surveillance became more intensive and proactive during the outbreak, the system needs to focus on improving the completeness of the data as well as the timeliness of the arrival of stool specimens within 3 days of collection.

Published in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease

ISSN: 2414-6366 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/tropicalmed

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