global program for eradication of poliomyelitis

Under the mentorship of Antonios Antoniadis and Filanthi Frantzidou (A' Microbiology Laboratory, Medical School, AUTH) , I participated in the Global Program for Eradication of Poliomyelitis (World Health Organization, 1988). By using cell culture and molecular biology techniques we studied retrospectively the epidemiological characteristics and genetic relationships of poliovirus isolates responsible for the last poliomyelitis cases in Greece.

We also assessed the immunity to poliomyelitis in a representative sample of > 1000 individuals living in northern Greece. Although Greece had been free of indigenous cases for poliomyelitis since 1982, our study revealed that for poliovirus type 3, a gap in immunity existed in individuals aged 10–29 years, and re-vaccination of adolescents living in northern Greece was suggested to ensure herd immunity and to minimize the risk of importation of wild poliovirus from endemic countries.