MONITORING OF IMPLEMENTATION OFINTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS OF POLIOMYELITISERADICATION AND MEASLES ANDRUBELLA ELIMINATION IN THE REPUBLICOF BELARUS

Aim. Monitoring of implementation of international
programs of poliomyelitis eradication,
and measles and rubella elimination in the
Republic of Belarus based on results of molecular-
epidemiologic studies of 2009 - 2010.
Materials and methods. 271 viral agents isolated
from children with acute flaccid paralysis syndrome,
other diseases, healthy children and from
sewage water within the framework of poliomyelitis
control implementation were identified by
serological and molecular methods. Blood sera
of 528 patients with fever and rash were examined
for the presence of IgM to measles and
rubella virus, 418 - for the presence of IgM to
parvovirus B19 and parvovirus DNA. Blood
sera of 33 pregnant women and 64 children with
signs of intrauterine infection were studied for
IgM and IgG antibodies to rubella virus. Measles
virus was isolated, N-gene sequence and phylogenetic analysis carried out. Results. The studies
performed confirmed that indigenous wild
polioviruses in the country do not circulate,
imported wild or vaccine-related polioviruses
were also not detected. Measles and rubella
morbidity in the Republic of Belarus was less
than 1 in 1 000 000. 2 cases of rubella (2009)
and 1 case of measles (2010) was detected during
adequate control level: the rate of detection
of patients with fever and rash, in whom measles
and rubella diagnosis was excluded by the results
of laboratory examination, was more than 2 in
100 000 of the population. The etiologic agent
in more than 20% of diseases with fever and rash
was parvovirus B19. A single case of measles was
caused by genotype D8 virus imported from
India. Conclusion. The data obtained give evidence
to conformance of the poliomyelitis,
measles, rubella, innate rubella syndrome control
implemented in the Republic of Belarus to
WHO recommendations; maintenance of status
of country as free from poliomyelitis and
achievement of main criteria of elimination of
both measles and rubella by 2010.

poliomyelitis, measles, rubella, innate rubella syndrome, laboratory confirmation, epidemiologic control