Polio Case Discovery: A two-year-old boy in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district showed symptoms of polio in early August 2023.
Polio Type: The ICMR-NIV Mumbai unit confirmed it as a type-1 vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV).
Immunological Profile: Follow-up tests indicated the child’s immunological profile was normal, and there was no evidence of the virus circulating in the community, meaning it was not a circulating VDPV (cVDPV).
Lack of Official Announcement: Despite the case being confirmed, the Meghalaya state government, Union Health Ministry, the WHO and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) have not publicly announced it.
Comparison to Past Announcements: The GPEI has acted swiftly in announcing similar cases elsewhere, such as in Israel and New York.
Public Health Implications: The delay in official communication raises questions about transparency and the effectiveness of outbreak reporting under the International Health Regulations.