Outbreak of poliomyelitis–Cape Verde, 2000

During August 16-October 17, 2000, 33 cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), including seven (21%) deaths, were reported in Cape Verde, an archipelago of 10 islands west of Senegal and Mauritania. Preliminary laboratory results identified wild type 1 poliovirus among eight cases. The first patient was a child aged 2 years from the capital city of Praia; paralysis onset occurred August 16. The child had received one dose of the recommended three doses of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). Twenty-two cases were reported from the island of Santiago, seven from Sal, three from San Vincente, and one from Maio. The ages of the AFP patients ranged from 3 months-38 years; 11 (33%) were aged < 5 years, 15 (46%) were 5-14 years, and seven (21%) were > or = 15 years. No deaths were reported among patients aged < 5 years. Three deaths (case fatality rate [CFR]: 20%) occurred among patients aged 5-14 years and four deaths occurred among patients aged > or = 15 years (CFR: 57%). Of 33 cases with known vaccination status, 13 (39%) were fully vaccinated.