Simulation exercises to strengthen polio outbreak preparedness: experience of the World Health Organization European Region.
| Autor: | Moulsdale HJ; Public Health England., Khetsuriani N; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia., Deshevoi S; World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark., Butler R; World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark., Simpson J; Public Health England Institute of Psychiatry, King's College., Salisbury D; Department of Health, London, United Kingdom. |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | The Journal of infectious diseases [J Infect Dis] 2014 Nov 01; Vol. 210 Suppl 1, pp. S208-15. |
| DOI: | 10.1093/infdis/jiu120 |
| Abstrakt: | Background: Poliovirus importations and related outbreaks continue to occur in polio-free countries, including those in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. National preparedness plans for responding to poliovirus introduction are insufficient in many countries of the European Region. We describe a series of polio outbreak simulation exercises that were implemented to formally test polio outbreak preparedness plans in the European Region. Methods: We designed and implemented the exercises, reviewed the results, made recommendations, and assessed the role of outbreak simulation exercises in maintaining regional polio-free status. In addition, we performed a comprehensive review of the national plans of all WHO Member States in the European Region. Results: Three exercises, delivered during 2011-2013 (for the Balkans, United Kingdom, and the Caucasus and Ukraine), revealed that participating countries were generally prepared for poliovirus introduction, but the level of preparedness needed improvement. The areas in particular need of strengthening were national preparedness plans, initial response, plans for securing vaccine supply, and communications. Conclusions: Polio outbreak simulation exercises can be valuable tools to help maintain polio-free status and should be extended to other high-risk countries and subnational areas in the European Region and elsewhere. (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.) |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|