Update: Outbreak of poliomyelitis--Dominican Republic and Haiti, 2000-2001

Abstract

From July 12, 2000, through September 18, 2001, a total of 21 cases of poliomyelitis (including two fatal cases) were reported from the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, divided between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. In the Dominican Republic, 13 of 168 reported cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) were confirmed as polio by isolation of poliovirus type 1 from either patients or their healthy contacts. The median age of the patients was 3 years (range: 9 months-14 years). None was vaccinated adequately. The most recent confirmed case-patient in the Dominican Republic had paralysis onset on January 25, 2001. In Haiti, eight of 40 AFP cases were confirmed virologically; seven of the confirmed cases occurred during January-July 2001. The median age of the patients was 7 years (range: 2-12 years). One patient had received at least 3 doses of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). The most recent confirmed case occurred in Haiti and the patient had paralysis onset on July 12, 2001. Eighteen AFP cases from the Dominican Republic and three from Haiti are pending final classification.