Environmental Surveillance in Kenya

Poliovirus surveillance is one of three key strategies adopted by the WHO Global Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI). The detection and investigation of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases is the gold standard for the detection of polioviruses but can be supplemented by poliovirus detection in close contacts of AFP cases and in environmental samples. Detection of wild poliovirus (WPV) from environmental samples can point to silent transmission and aid in targeting immunization responses to interrupt further spread.1 This article reports the experience of environmental surveillance in Nairobi; Kenya