A further three month extension of the Temporary Recommendations was confirmed last week at the 27th meeting of the Polio IHR Emergency Committee. Issues raised included: WPV transmission remains in core reservoirs of Pakistan (Karachi and Quetta Block) and in Southern Afghanistan. It has also ‘expanded to previously polio-free areas such as North Sindh and South Punjab in Pakistan and the Western and Northern regions in Afghanistan’; and a 254 percent increase in cVDPV2 cases in 2020 compared to 2019, but with fewer lineages and newly emerging viruses detected. Several strategies were proposed for countries such as Egypt, which has now had four positive cVDPV2 environmental samples – one last year and three in 2021 – through sewage testing in Giza, Alexandria, and Aswan and Qena in the south (all linked to Sudan). They include undertaking ‘urgent and intensive investigations to determine if there has been local transmission of the imported cVDPV2’, ensuring early poliovirus detection and intensifying immunisation efforts and national and international/cross-border surveillance. Kenya has recorded its second cVDPV2 positive environmental sample for 2020/1 in Mombasa, related to the outbreak in Somalia. In other polio news last week, more cVDPV2 cases to add to 2020 totals were reported in Afghanistan (one case in Khost province), Ethiopia (three cases from Oramiya and Amhara regions), two from Sud-Ubangi province in the DRC and one case each from Côte d’Ivoire (Kabadougou), Mali (Gao region) and Sudan (originating in South Sudan). 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.