Joint national/international AFP surveillance review, Bhutan : 22-31 October 2005

Abstract

The very basis of regional certification of polio-free status is high quality acute flaccid paralysis (‎AFP)‎ surveillance. The Regional Office has been assisting Member countries to strengthen AFP and vaccine preventable disease (‎VPD)‎ surveillance. As an integral component of this process, countries are encouraged to conduct periodic internal reviews of disease surveillance systems. This is complemented by periodic joint national/international reviews of AFP and VPD surveillance systems. To verify Bhutan's polio-free status and as a requirement for regional certification, a joint national/international surveillance review was conducted to identify strengths and limitations in AFP and VPD surveillance. Bhutan borders the polio-endemic country of India and also shares its border with China. There is significant population movement across borders which poses a risk of importation of wild poliovirus and other vaccine-preventable diseases. This report describes the background, methodology and findings from the Review.