Keep the poliovirus contained after eradication

WHO seeks input on guidance document

Safety is vital when handling infectious material. © WHO
Safety is vital when handling infectious material. © WHO

As part of its work to keep the world safe from poliovirus, WHO is seeking input on draft guidance for managing human exposure to live polioviruses from poliovirus-essential facilities such as labs and vaccine plants. Countries where polioviruses are kept require this guidance. The guidance document is open for public comment and WHO is particularly seeking feedback from national authorities for containment – the national bodies overseeing work in poliovirus containment – and from others working in public health.

The guidance is aimed primarily at public health workers in countries where there are facilities designated to handle and store polioviruses for vaccine production, diagnostics and key research (poliovirus-essential facilities), and outlines public health measures to be taken in the event of a spill or containment breach.

Related resources


Related News

   27/08/2021
Despite success against wild polio in the African region, outbreaks of the non-wild form of polio, cVDPV2, continue. With continued country commitment to eradication, a future where no child in Africa is paralysed by the virus is possible.
   31/05/2021
In the middle of a devastating pandemic with no end in sight, a glimmer of hope came in August 2020, on the day the African Region was officially declared free of wild poliovirus.
   23/10/2020
A win for polio is a win for global health
   24/09/2020
Dr. Tunji Funsho was honored as one of TIME's 100 most influential people for 2020.
   31/08/2020
Professor Rose Leke on polio eradication, gender and women in science.
   25/08/2020
Support from national governments and global donors critical to the region’s success against wild polio and must continue to achieve a polio-free world