La sorveglianza attiva delle paralisi flaccide acute in Emilia Romagna negli anni 1998-2001

In order to be declared a "polio free country", WHO requires that countries conduct active surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). The Institute of Hygiene at the University of Parma, in accordance with provisionsof the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), has organized an AFP surveillance program in Emilia Romagna. Cooperating with the Regional Prevention Services, the Community Medicine Services and hospital departments of infectious diseases, paediatrics and neurology were contacted in each of the eleven main cities of the region. During the period from 1998 through 2001, a total of 14 notifications of AFP were received: 10 in children less than 15 years of age and 4 in young adults. The observed incidence rates of AFP (between 0.68 and 0.90) are similar to that expected rate (1/100.000 children less than 15 years), with the exception of the year 2000 in which fewer notifications were received. Follow-up of the notified cases for virological and serological exams was good (two faecal samples were obtained from 88% of the cases, 80% provided fluid and pharyngeal samples, 100% provided blood samples). No pathogenic viruses were isolated from any of the samples obtained.