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Facilities (not PEFs) holding potentially infectious poliovirus materials

Some facilities may have or receive samples that may contain poliovirus. These might be throat or stool samples in hospitals, samples for scientific research in universities, and so on. These facilities must also take precautions. 

Reporting (suspected) polio patients

Doctors and laboratories must report polio patients to the Municipal Health Service (GGD in Dutch) if they see polio patients. These notifications will help stop the spread of polio. The GGD therefore works closely with the RIVM’s Centre for Infectious Disease Control. The diagnostic samples collected by the healthcare provider from any suspected polio patients do not need to be reported to the NAC. 

Reporting the possible presence of infectious poliovirus material

Potentially infectious poliovirus materials may also be (unknowingly) present in research facilities. These materials are called poliovirus potentially infectious materials (poliovirus PIMs), such as collections of throat or stool samples or concentrated sewage water samples for scientific research. 

The requirements for handling these materials are different from those for a Poliovirus-essential Facility (PEF). The most important requirements are:

  • The facility must have an overview of all poliovirus PIMs in their possession;
  • The facility must report to the NAC if it is in possession of material that may contain the poliovirus;
  • The facility must have a protocol for dealing with poliovirus PIMs.

How can a facility check to see if possible poliovirus infectious materials (PIMs) are present?

Poliovirus PIMs include samples that meet the following three criteria:

  1. The materials consist of throat or stool samples or concentrated sewage samples; 
  2. The samples were collected at a time or place in which poliovirus was circulating, or if an oral polio vaccine was used;
  3. The materials have been stored under conditions that allow the poliovirus to survive (poliovirus can survive for a long time in a freezer and for months in a refrigerator).

A facility can use the WHO’S Poliovirus (PIM) Identification Tool to see whether they are in possession of poliovirus PIMs.

How can a facility report to the NAC?

If you need to report PIMs in your facility, or if you have questions about PIMs, please send an email to nac@igj.nl. The NAC will then contact you.