A post in this week’s WHO African regional bulletin has confirmed a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) case in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, with date of presentation in November 2021. It was noted that there hadn’t been a case of polio in Malawi in three decades. In other polio news, more cVDPV2 infections dating from 2021 have been reported by the GPEI in its latest update: Nigeria’s two cases were in Bauchi state and the D R of Congo logged three cases from Maniema province. In addition, positive environmental samples were obtained from sites in both Chad (in N’djamena and linked to the Nigeria’s Zamfara outbreak) and Djibouti (in Arta and Djibouti, linked to circulating virus in Yemen). 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.