Poliomyelitis Eradication in Burkina Faso: Progress in Epidemiological Surveillance of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and Environmental Surveillance from 2020 to 2024

Abstract

Surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and environmental surveillance is one of the pillars of the polio eradication strategy, particularly in contexts marked by insecurity and the circulation of vaccine-derived polioviruses type 2 (cVDPV2). Through a descriptive and retrospective cross-sectional study, we evaluated the performance of the surveillance system in Burkina Faso between 2020 and 2024, using data from AFP monitoring, active research and environmental monitoring. The indicators were analysed annually and by health district and compared to the standards of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. A total of 6,243 AFP cases were reviewed; 70.6% were children under five years of age and 58% were boys. Seventy-four cVDPV2 were detected, mainly in 2020. The national rate of non-polio AFP remained above the expected threshold (more than 3 cases per 100,000 children < 15 years), while stool collection adequacy remained generally satisfactory (above 80%). However, several deficiencies remain, including active surveillance visits, contact sample collection, environmental monitoring, and timely delivery of samples to the laboratory. Overall, the system is satisfactory, but its effectiveness would improve in hard-to-reach areas to strengthen early detection and outbreak response.