Plenty of polio news (and cases) this week, coinciding with World Polio Day on Oct 24: Pakistan reported two more WPV1 cases (Balochistan province) and Afghanistan registered a single WPV1 case (Kandahar province) but 14 more cVDPV2 infections from nine provinces. In Africa, seven countries added to their cVDPV2 counts: 21 in Burkina Faso, 16 in Sudan, 15 in Côte d’Ivoire, six in Mali, five in Somalia, four in Ethiopia and one in Nigeria, and lastly, in the Middle East, Yemen recorded two cVDPV1 cases in Saadah district. At the Oct 22 meeting of the Polio IHR Emergency Committee, it was remarked that with a 42 percent increase in WPV1 global incidence in 2020 over 2019 and more cVDPV infections in 2020 than in all of 2019 (409 cf 378), ‘the risk of international spread of poliovirus remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)’ so the Temporary Recommendations will be extended for a further three months. A number of factors have contributed to the current very high risk of international spread of WPV1, while there is frequent cross-border spread of cVDPV2, both in Asia (Pakistan to Afghanistan) and Africa – as evidenced by new outbreaks in Guinea, South Sudan and Sudan (and with the same virus also ‘detected in sewage in Cairo, Egypt but with no evidence of local circulation’). Of note however, is the reduction in sub-types / lineages and newly emerged viruses, which is down on last year. 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.