Investigation and response to a type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus detected in an infant with hand, foot, and mouth disease — Guangdong, China, 2023

Abstract Background The detection of type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV3) in an immunocompetent infant with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) raised concerns about potential transmission. This study aimed to investigate the risk of VDPV3 spread through comprehensive clinical, environmental,...

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Main Authors: Jialing Li, Lance E. Rodewald, Wei Zhang, Jian Liang, Xiaoping Shao, Qi Zhu, Jun Liu, Limei Sun, Jianfeng He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00911-5
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author Jialing Li
Lance E. Rodewald
Wei Zhang
Jian Liang
Xiaoping Shao
Qi Zhu
Jun Liu
Limei Sun
Jianfeng He
author_facet Jialing Li
Lance E. Rodewald
Wei Zhang
Jian Liang
Xiaoping Shao
Qi Zhu
Jun Liu
Limei Sun
Jianfeng He
author_sort Jialing Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The detection of type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV3) in an immunocompetent infant with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) raised concerns about potential transmission. This study aimed to investigate the risk of VDPV3 spread through comprehensive clinical, environmental, and epidemiological assessments. Existing literature highlights the rare emergence of VDPV3 in similar settings, emphasizing the need for robust surveillance and rapid response to prevent outbreaks. Case presentation Stool specimen from an 8-month-old female infant presented with HFMD without paralysis or immunodeficiency was tested positive for VDPV3 with 12 nucleotide changes in Foshan City. The infant had received routine vaccinations before and was otherwise healthy. No additional VDPV3 was detected in her follow-up samples, and the child fully recovered without complications. Measures A team was formed to investigate and respond in accordance with China’s National Health Commission and World Health Organization guidelines. Investigation included obtaining stool specimens from the child, her contacts, and local healthy children to test for evidence of poliovirus; conducting enhanced environmental surveillance for VDPV3 in wastewater; measuring vaccination coverage; searching hospitals and communities for unreported acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases; and evaluating the index infant for immunodeficiency. Results No additional VDPV3s were detected in stool samples from the index infant, her contacts, or local healthy children. Similarly, no VDPV3s were identified in wastewater samples. The child’s immune function was found to be normal. Historical vaccination coverage data revealed that Foshan had a high polio vaccination rate. An active search for AFP cases yielded no results. Over a period of more than one year, enhanced AFP surveillance and environmental surveillance were implemented, and no additional VDPV3s were detected during this time. Conclusions Based on Foshan’s high polio vaccine coverage rate, sensitive AFP case reporting system, and findings from the investigation, risk of transmission of VDPVs in the area was determined to be extremely low. No vaccination response was conducted. After one year of environmental and AFP surveillance, no further VDPV3s were detected, indicating cessation of transmission.
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spelling doaj-art-ab34e53ba26a4353877c8da9a700e6c72025-08-20T03:08:43ZengBMCJournal of Health, Population and Nutrition2072-13152025-05-014411710.1186/s41043-025-00911-5Investigation and response to a type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus detected in an infant with hand, foot, and mouth disease — Guangdong, China, 2023Jialing Li0Lance E. Rodewald1Wei Zhang2Jian Liang3Xiaoping Shao4Qi Zhu5Jun Liu6Limei Sun7Jianfeng He8Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionNational Immunization Program, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionGuangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionGuangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionGuangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionGuangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionGuangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionGuangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionGuangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionAbstract Background The detection of type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV3) in an immunocompetent infant with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) raised concerns about potential transmission. This study aimed to investigate the risk of VDPV3 spread through comprehensive clinical, environmental, and epidemiological assessments. Existing literature highlights the rare emergence of VDPV3 in similar settings, emphasizing the need for robust surveillance and rapid response to prevent outbreaks. Case presentation Stool specimen from an 8-month-old female infant presented with HFMD without paralysis or immunodeficiency was tested positive for VDPV3 with 12 nucleotide changes in Foshan City. The infant had received routine vaccinations before and was otherwise healthy. No additional VDPV3 was detected in her follow-up samples, and the child fully recovered without complications. Measures A team was formed to investigate and respond in accordance with China’s National Health Commission and World Health Organization guidelines. Investigation included obtaining stool specimens from the child, her contacts, and local healthy children to test for evidence of poliovirus; conducting enhanced environmental surveillance for VDPV3 in wastewater; measuring vaccination coverage; searching hospitals and communities for unreported acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases; and evaluating the index infant for immunodeficiency. Results No additional VDPV3s were detected in stool samples from the index infant, her contacts, or local healthy children. Similarly, no VDPV3s were identified in wastewater samples. The child’s immune function was found to be normal. Historical vaccination coverage data revealed that Foshan had a high polio vaccination rate. An active search for AFP cases yielded no results. Over a period of more than one year, enhanced AFP surveillance and environmental surveillance were implemented, and no additional VDPV3s were detected during this time. Conclusions Based on Foshan’s high polio vaccine coverage rate, sensitive AFP case reporting system, and findings from the investigation, risk of transmission of VDPVs in the area was determined to be extremely low. No vaccination response was conducted. After one year of environmental and AFP surveillance, no further VDPV3s were detected, indicating cessation of transmission.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00911-5Vaccine-derived poliovirusTransmissionRisk assessment
spellingShingle Jialing Li
Lance E. Rodewald
Wei Zhang
Jian Liang
Xiaoping Shao
Qi Zhu
Jun Liu
Limei Sun
Jianfeng He
Investigation and response to a type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus detected in an infant with hand, foot, and mouth disease — Guangdong, China, 2023
Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
Vaccine-derived poliovirus
Transmission
Risk assessment
title Investigation and response to a type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus detected in an infant with hand, foot, and mouth disease — Guangdong, China, 2023
title_full Investigation and response to a type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus detected in an infant with hand, foot, and mouth disease — Guangdong, China, 2023
title_fullStr Investigation and response to a type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus detected in an infant with hand, foot, and mouth disease — Guangdong, China, 2023
title_full_unstemmed Investigation and response to a type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus detected in an infant with hand, foot, and mouth disease — Guangdong, China, 2023
title_short Investigation and response to a type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus detected in an infant with hand, foot, and mouth disease — Guangdong, China, 2023
title_sort investigation and response to a type 3 vaccine derived poliovirus detected in an infant with hand foot and mouth disease guangdong china 2023
topic Vaccine-derived poliovirus
Transmission
Risk assessment
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00911-5
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