Johnson S, Schoub B D, McAnerney J M, Gear J S, Moodie J M, Garrity S L, Klaassen K I, Küstner H G
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1984;78(1):26-31. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(84)90166-4.
Between May and September 1982 an extensive epidemic of poliomyelitis occurred in Gazankulu in the north-eastern region of South Africa, with a total of 260 paralysed cases and 42 deaths. A three-part study was instituted, the first of which established the aetiological agent of the epidemic to be poliovirus type 1. This was determined initially by serology and later by isolation of the virus, chiefly from stool specimens. The potency of the trivalent oral polio vaccine manufactured at the National Institute for Virology, was evaluated in the second study by in vitro potency testing of samples recalled from the epidemic areas and also in vivo by determining the serological response of seronegative children immunized with fresh vaccine. Nearly half of the vaccine samples withdrawn from the field had sub-optimal titres whereas fresh vaccine produced a very satisfactory serological response. In order to plan immunization rationally, the third study, namely the determination of the immune status of the various populations throughout the country was instituted. This involved both serology, using a neutralization test on randomly collected sera and also an analysis of patient history and health card documentation. With the exception of the urban black area (Soweto), which had high levels of immunity both serologically (75%) and on history, other areas examined had poorer levels of immunity of approximately 52% on serological testing and 57% on history. It is clear that the epidemic was multifactorial in origin, with fall-offs in the level of immunization and evidence of breaks in the cold chain being the major factors.
1982年5月至9月间，南非东北部的加赞库卢地区发生了大规模脊髓灰质炎疫情，共有260例瘫痪病例，42人死亡。开展了一项分为三个部分的研究，第一部分确定该疫情的病原体为1型脊髓灰质炎病毒。最初通过血清学方法确定，后来通过病毒分离确定，主要从粪便标本中分离。在第二项研究中，对从疫区召回的疫苗样本进行体外效价测试，并通过测定接种新鲜疫苗的血清阴性儿童的血清学反应，对国家病毒学研究所生产的三价口服脊髓灰质炎疫苗的效力进行了评估。从现场撤回的近一半疫苗样本效价未达最佳水平，而新鲜疫苗产生了非常令人满意的血清学反应。为了合理规划免疫接种，开展了第三项研究，即确定全国不同人群的免疫状况。这包括血清学检测，对随机收集的血清进行中和试验，以及分析患者病史和健康卡记录。除了城市黑人地区（索韦托），其血清学免疫水平（75%）和病史免疫水平都很高外，其他接受检查的地区免疫水平较差，血清学检测约为52%，病史免疫水平约为57%。显然，此次疫情起源是多因素的，免疫接种水平下降和冷链中断迹象是主要因素。
