Re-emergence of vaccine-derived polio in the demographic Republic of Congo: Causes and consequences

Abstract

Poliovirus is a deadly disease that needs to be eradicated in the world. Recently, issues with circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been raised in the country. This article aims to determine the increase in Type 1 cVDPV1 and Type 2 cVDPV2 in the DRC. Relevant articles on PubMed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Web of Science were searched from 2010 to 2023. Our findings indicate that the Democratic Republic of Congo has struggled with polio outbreaks, with the virus primarily linked to cVDPVs produced from vaccines rather than wild poliovirus. These cVDPVs have the potential to revert to their paralyzing capabilities by evolving from the weakened virus seen in the oral polio vaccination (OPV). Several regions in DRC have reported cVDPV outbreaks of cVDPVs. Numerous cVDPV2 outbreaks were documented in various provinces during the 2017–2018 period. Addressing the cVDPV outbreak in the DRC requires a concerted global effort, involving collaboration among governments, international health organizations, and donor agencies. There should be global support and collaboration among governments, international health organizations, and donor agencies to address the cVDPV outbreak in the DRC.