(First in a series)

MANILA, Philippines – World attention is now focused on A(H1N1), which has already claimed 332 deaths and posted 77,201 cases around the globe as of July 1. The world, however, should not ignore another virus, human papillomavirus or HPV, which according to World Health Organization’s estimates, causes over a quarter of a million deaths and 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer annually.

To save women’s lives from HPV in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions, the International Vaccine Institute recently hosted a two-day symposium of decision makers in Seoul where the institute is based. Some 150 experts, policymakers, and decision makers from 36 countries in the two regions took part in the event to find solutions on how to expand vaccination programs to fight HPV and its related diseases, which include cervical cancer.

WHO Western Pacific Regional Director Doctor Shin Young-soo reminded the attendees that “immunization has been one of the greatest success stories of the 20th century.” In the welcome address delivered on his behalf by Dr. Baoping Yang, Young-soo traced its success from the eradication of smallpox in 1977 and near eradication of poliomyelitis to the morbidity and mortality from diphtheria, measles, pertussis and tetanus, which stand at historical lows.

He said, “The 21st century has seen the commercial licensure of safe and ethical vaccines against many other diseases such as pneumococcal, rotavirus and more recently, HPV infections that cause substantial morbidity and mortality.” WHO, according to Young-soo, has issued recommendations for inclusion of many of these vaccines into national immunization programs through a series of position papers. The one on HPV vaccine was issued in April this year.

Facts and figures

Culled from speeches and papers during the symposium are these facts and figures:

• Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide and the leading cause of cancer deaths in women in developing countries.

• Overall, 80 to 85 percent of cervical cancer deaths occur in developing countries.

• In the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions, 1.3 billion women aged 15 and older are at risk of developing cervical cancer.

• Fifty percent of all cervical cancer deaths all over the world occur in these regions. One-third of these stem from South Asia alone.

• In Asia alone, over 250,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and of these about 140,000 die each year.

• The International Vaccine Institute is the only global research organization in the world that is committed to bringing new vaccines to the poor populations of developing countries. Its diverse technical expertise allows it to focus on the vaccine continuum through discovery, development, assessment and deployment.

According to IVI director general Dr. John Clemens, two vaccines have been licensed worldwide to prevent specific HPV serotypes and have the potential to dramatically reduce the incidence of cervical cancer and other anogenital cancers. Both vaccines, he said, contain two of the most common serotypes that account for about 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases.

Said Clemens: “With the introduction of two-effect vaccines we are now able to fight one of the leading killers of women in these (Asia-Pacific and Middle East) regions. We will all have a lot to accomplish and this symposium is important first step in forging necessary public-private partnerships to facilitate the introduction of this vaccine into national immunization programs.”