Risk of introduction of poliovirus into a Dutch Cape Verdian community during an outbreak of poliovirus in Cape Verde, 2000

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of introduction of polio virus in a Cape Verdian community of Rotterdam, during the polio epidemic in Cape Verde in 2000.

METHODS: All 225 insufficiently vaccinated 0-14-year-old Cape Verdian children (n=4188) and a random sample of 285 out of all 15-30-year-old Cape Verdians (n=5074) in Rotterdam were surveyed to assess travel behaviour and vaccination coverage. Faecal specimens were collected and sewage samples taken in neighbourhoods with a sizable Cape Verdian population for testing of polio virus.

RESULTS: During the polio epidemic in Cape Verde, 10% of insufficiently vaccinated children aged 0-14 years and 17% of adults aged 15-30 years living in Rotterdam reported travelling to Cape Verde. 94.6% of Cape Verdians in Rotterdam aged 0-14 years were sufficiently vaccinated against polio, but 9 of 91 insufficiently vaccinated children had travelled to Cape Verde during the epidemic. Of those aged 15-30 years, 10% were not vaccinated against polio. In the faeces of 80 insufficiently vaccinated individuals aged 0-14 years and in 74 adults aged 15-30 years, no poliovirus was detected. Samples of sewage from six sites were negative for poliovirus.

CONCLUSION: No evidence of poliovirus infection was found in the Cape Verde population in Rotterdam despite extensive travel to the Cape Verde during the outbreak.