Ongoing surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis cases has led to the detection of a case of circulating vaccine-derived polio 2 (cVDPV2) in Dadaab, Garissa county in the country’s NE region – symptom onset was in May. Sequencing revealed that the strain was very similar to one that had been circulating in the area seven years previously. Positive environmental samples have also been obtained from Nairobi and Mombasa this year, so two rounds of reactive polio vaccinations have been carried out in 13 counties using the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). In other polio news, the GPEI update reported cVDPV2 cases in Nigeria (42 from 13 states and the FCT, taking the YTD total to 266), and a single case each in Cameroon (Extreme Nord province) and Senegal (Matam, and a positive environmental sample in Dakar), while Madagascar has recorded another cVDPV1 infection, its 10th this year, from Sud-Ouest province. Of note, Guinea-Bissau has confirmed its first cases of cVDPV2 - three in total from Bissau and Biombo. 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.