Virologic surveillance of poliomyelitis in Delhi.

OBJECTIVE: Virologic surveillance of poliomyelitis to monitor the transmission of wild polio virus in the community. STUDY AREA: All major hospitals of Delhi and surrounding area. METHODS: Stool samples were collected from 1221 cases of acute flaccid paralysis during 1992-1994 and were subjected to virus isolation on RD and HEp2 cell line. Viruses isolated were analyzed further by microneutralization test using polio and nonpolio antisera. The polio isolates were further characterized as vaccine or wild type using ELISA and probe technology. RESULTS: Out of the 1221 cases tested, virus was isolated in 57.4%. Among the virus positive cases, polio was isolated in 57% and in 43% non polio entero viruses were detected. The most prevalent was polio virus type 1. Most of the strains were wild type. CONCLUSION: Wild polio virus was prevailing in the community under study between the years 1992-1994.