The UK National Survey of Polioviruses in Laboratories

Introduction

During 2001 all laboratories in the UK will be asked to take part in a survey to establish the location of stocks of poliovirus and potentially infectious material. The information that follows will explain why this is necessary.

WHO resolution for global eradication of polioviruses

In 1988 the World Health Assembly adopted the resolution calling for the global eradication of poliomyelitis by the year 2000. Although this target has not been achieved, major regions of the world have been free of confirmed cases of polio for years, in the face of stringent surveillance, and the number of cases of polio has fallen by an estimated 95%. ( http://www.who.int/vaccine-polio/)

World foci of poliovirus infection

As shown on the world map the major foci of the disease remain in South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan), West and Central Africa (Angola, DCR Congo and Nigeria) and the Horn of Africa.

Polio-free regions

The WHO regions of the Americas and the Western Pacific have been certified as polio-free, having had no wild poliovirus infection detected for three years. In November 1998 in Turkey, Melik Minas, aged 33 months was diagnosed with what is hoped to be the last case of paralytic polio in Europe. In November 2001, the European region itself will be eligible for certification as polio-free.

Why is the Laboratory Containment exercise necessary?

The progress achieved to date makes it likely that polio will be eradicated worldwide in the near future. Some years thereafter, immunisation will be stopped. Since there is no animal or environmental reservoir for polioviruses, the only source of poliovirus after human transmission ceases will be laboratory stocks. An inadvertent reintroduction of poliovirus from the laboratory into the population after the cessation of immunisation would precipitate a public health crisis of catastrophic proportions. A plan of action has therefore been prepared globally to prevent this happening.

National Laboratory Survey of Wild Poliovirus stocks and potentially infectious material

Negatively stained poliovirus

Scanning EM poliovirus

The WHO has prepared a systematic worldwide plan of action to prevent transmission of wild poliovirus from the laboratory into the community. In the UK a poliovirus national containment co-ordinator has been appointed and is based at CDSC in Colindale ( e-mail address Brenda.Thomas@hpa.org.uk)

During 2001 a national inventory of organisations that have laboratories that MAY contain poliovirus or potentially infectious poliovirus material will be compiled. This is what will happen:

1. ALL organisations that MAY contain a laboratory will receive a preliminary questionnaire asking for the following information:
   
   • Any laboratories in the organisation?
   • Number of laboratories
   • Number of freezers storing biological material (even if there are no laboratories)
   • Name of a nominated contact/s in the organisation who will be responsible for the internal audit
     
2. Organisations that have laboratories will receive copies of a second, more detailed questionnaire. This will be distributed by the nominated contact to all the laboratories named. It will ask for information on the following stored material:
   
   • Known or suspected poliovirus isolates
   • Samples collected in the UK before 1985
   • Samples collected from countries where and when polio was /is endemic
   • Samples collected from known polio cases or infected animals
   • Routine specimens
   • Research specimens
     
3. The director of each laboratory will be asked to sign a declaration that all records and storage facilities have been searched and that:
   
   • No poliovirus or potentially infectious material has been found OR
   • Poliovirus or potentially infectious material has been found and disposed of appropriately OR
   • Poliovirus or potentially infectious material is present and will continue to be stored and used

Post eradication procedures

When polio is finally eradicated, work with polioviruses will be carried out only in institutes that have Category 3 storage and laboratory facilities. Ultimately, when immunisation ceases, work will be allowed only in Category 4 facilities. This will be enforced by the Health and Safety Executive.

How you can help in the containment exercise

• When you receive your first questionnaire, it is vital that you complete it and return it to the national containment co-ordinator as soon as possible EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO LABORATORIES OR THINK YOU HAVE NO POLIOVIRUS MATERIAL STORED. Until you have replied, we cannot enter your organisation into the inventory.
• If you tell us that you have no laboratories or freezers, we will enter this information into the inventory, and you will probably not be contacted again.

If you do not reply, the containment co-ordinator will send a series of reminders. Within the UK, the inventory is being undertaken as an informal voluntary exercise. However, there are statutory requirements that could be used to require you to produce the information requested. Under Section 20 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 an appointed HSE inspector has a range of powers that include requiring information or the production of books or documents.

Auditing

An audit of the laboratories on the National Inventory will be conducted in the future.

We would like to thank you for taking the time to read this information and look forward to your future co-operation.

Last reviewed: 25 May 2010