This story is from September 29, 2018

Vaccine raises spectre of 'dead' polio strain's spread

Some batches of oral polio vaccine manufactured by Biomed have been found to be contaminated with polio type 2 virus. The government has ordered a probe to find out how the type 2 strain was retained even after all manufacturers were ordered to take measures for the complete destruction of all traces of Polio Virus Type 2 by 25 April 2016.
Vaccine raises spectre of 'dead' polio strain's spread
Polio immunisation drive in Mysuru. (TNN file photo)
Key Highlights
  • Some batches of oral polio vaccine manufactured by Biomed have been found to be contaminated with polio type 2 virus
  • This strain has been eradicated worldwide, including India
  • Biomed was supplying polio vaccines for only government-run immunisation programme
NEW DELHI: In what can pose a serious threat to public health, some batches of oral polio vaccine manufactured by Ghaziabad-based Biomed have been found to be contaminated with polio type 2 virus — a strain which has been eradicated worldwide, including in India.
While the contamination has the potential of bringing polio back to India, the health ministry and the drug regulator have initiated preventive measures to contain the impact.
"We have alerted UP and Maharashtra where contaminated vaccines may have been used," a senior official told TOI.
Biomed was supplying polio vaccines for only government-run immunisation programme and not for private retail, officials said.
The contamination was first suspected when surveillance reports from UP showed signs of the virus in stool samples of some children. Samples of OPV vaccines were sent for testing.
"Test reports confirmed that some batches were contaminated with type 2 virus," a regulatory official said. At least 50,000 vials are under the scanner.
The central drug regulator has now filed an FIR against Biomed and the company's managing director was arrested on Thursday. Besides, the Drugs Controller General of India has asked the company to "stop, manufacture, sale or distribution till further orders".
The government has also ordered a probe to find out how the type 2 strain was retained by Biomed even after the central drug regulator had ordered all manufacturers in the country to take necessary measures for complete destruction of all traces of Polio Virus Type 2 by 25 April, 2016. "It was also instructed that after the assigned date, the OPV containing type 2 shall be removed from cold chain and disposed as per the national switch plan," the official said.
Manufacturing, distribution and use of type 2 strain was stopped after global eradication of the virus.
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