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Poliomyelitis Surveillance Special Report Number 2, May 14, 1955: An Estimate of the Extent of the National Problem Associated with Cutter Vaccine
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May 14, 1955
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Description:At the present time, 8:30 PM, 5/2/55, a total of 29 cases of poliorryelitis in vaccinated children have been '’accepted" . Of these, 27 are paralytic and 2 are non-paralytic". Twenty-six (26) cases received Cutter Vaccine and 3 Lilly Vaccine. Those receiving Cutter Vaccine were reported from 5 States, California li|., Colorado 1, Idaho 9, Illinois 1, and Washington 1. This represents a change from the last report of h additional cases and the elimination of one case in California in which the diagnosis was changed. A summary of these new cases and modifications and revisions of the data presented in Surveillance Report No. 1 is attached.
The PSU’’ receives reports, rumors and information of various types from many sources. When this occurs immediate steps are taken by telephone or teletype to inform the State Polio Reporting Officer of the known facts and to determine if the case has been verified by him.
This report has been prepared primarily as a working document for the Expert Committee on Poliomyelitis of the Public Health Service.
Those assisting in the preparation of this report were Dr. Alexander D. Langmuir, Dr. Neal Nathanson, and Mr. Earl Diamond. Material help was given in the statistical analyses by Dr. R. E. Serfling, Mrs. Ida L. Sherman, Mr. Jack Karush, and Dr. Jack Hall.
The regular PSU Reports from May 1 to May 14, with the weekly summaries, present the current information available on poliomyelitis associated with polio vaccine. The PSU Special Report No. 1 (May 14, summarizes the data on cases occurring among parents and siblings of vaccinated children. In this report an attempt is made to interpret the national picture as fully as possible and to make a forecast of the extent of the problem as it appears from the present epidemiological data.
The cumulated epidemiological information to date reveals a clear and marked association of poliomyelitis cases among persons receiving Cutter vaccine, and nothing but a purely coincidental relation with cases receiving either Wyeth or Lilly vaccine. No cases have been reported following inoculation of Pittman-Moore or Parke-Davis vaccine, although a few coincidental cases can surely be anticipated. The epidemiological data to date are wholly consistent with the pattern of a common source epidemic, with Cutter vaccine as the vehicle of infection.
This report, therefore, will be concerned solely with what is termed the "Cutter Incident." Three phases may be outlined:
• The first phase is the occurrence of cases among Cutter vaccinated children.
• The second phase is the occurrence of cases among familial associates of Cutter vaccinated children.
• The third phase is the possible occurrence of further spread in community from Cutter vaccinated sources.
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