In the past week the WHO has published Disease Outbreak News posts on the recent circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) detections in both Kenya and Tanzania, providing detailed descriptions of both the circumstances and the current situation. The two Kenyan cases occurred in a Garissa County refugee camp and the strain isolated is linked to one circulating in the Banadir region of southern Somalia, while sequencing has closely linked Tanzania’s single case ‘in the Rukwa region, southwestern Tanzania bordering Lake Tanganyika to the west and Zambia to the south’ to South Kivu province in the DRC. The ongoing risk to both countries at a national level was assessed by the WHO as high due to suboptimal surveillance and vaccination, coupled with mass trans-border population movements. In other news on polio from the GPEI, cVDPV2 cases were reported by the DRC (one patient in Haut Katanga) and Nigeria (two cases in Zamfara). Read more
Advice for travellers
Poliomyelitis is a potentially serious viral illness that is spread through contact with infected faeces or saliva. The risk to travellers is generally low, however vaccination is recommended for travel to affected regions and is a requirement for travel to/from some countries. If at risk, adults should have a booster to the childhood series. More on polio.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.