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Background This report describes emergency response following an imported vaccine derived poliovirus (VDPV) case from Myanmar to Yunnan Province, China and the cross-border collaboration between China and Myanmar. Immediately after confirmation of the VDPV case, China disseminated related information to Myanmar with the assistance of the World Health Organization. Methods A series of epidemiological investigations were conducted, both in China and Myanmar, including retrospective searches of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases, oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) coverage assessment, and investigation of contacts and healthy children. Results All children <2 years of age had not been vaccinated in the village where the VDPV case had lived in the past 2 years. Moreover, most areas were not covered for routine immunization in this township due to vaccine shortages and lack of operational funds for the past 2 years. Conclusions Cross-border collaboration may have prevented a potential outbreak of VDPV in Myanmar. It is necessary to reinforce cross-border collaboration with neighboring countries in order to maximize the leverage of limited resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To elucidate the genetic characterization and molecular epidemiological features of Echovirus 19 (E19) isolates collected from an outbreak associated with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Tai'an city of Shandong Province of China from July to September, 2003. Methods Thirty seven Echovirus 19 isolates were isolated from stool specimens and throat swabs collected during the outbreak, then major capsid (VP1) genomic sequence was determined, and phylogenetic tree was done based on the VP1 sequences among these 37 and other E19 viruses deposited in the Genbank. Also a representative strain named CHN-SD03-TN12 was selected for sequencing of 5′-untranslated regions (5′-UTR). Results The identity rate was about 98.9%–100% among all these 37 E19 viruses. The genetic relationships between these 37 E19 isolates and other strains reported were also depicted. The identity rate was about 78.4%–78.9% compared with E19 reference strain Burke. The substitutions in the sequence of 5′-UTR resulted in changes in the conjectural properties of 5′-UTR of E19 viruses. Conclusion The genetic features of E19 viruses isolated during the outbreak in Shandong Province in 2003 may be associated with a genetic and antigenic drift that changes the virulence of the Shandong isolates, but the molecular changes in Shandong E19 viruses contributing to their phenotype remain to be further illuminated. However, the sequences described in this paper substantiate the changes taken place in capsid VP1 and 5′UTR regions. These substitutions may contribute to their tropism and virulence, and play a significant role in pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]