Poliomyelitis in Syria (Update 5)
13 Oct 2017
On 11 October the Global Polio Eradication Initiative
reported one new polio (cVDPV2) case this week. The case was reported in Mayadeen district, Deir Ez-Zor governorate, and had onset on 19 August. This increases the current number of cases in this outbreak to 48. Onset of paralysis of these cases is between 3 March and 19 August.
Two new cVDPV2 infections from healthy children have also been recorded, both from Mayadeen district, Deir Ez-Zor governorate.
Advice for Travellers
Polio is spread mainly through person to person contact via the faecal-oral route. Particularly in areas where sanitation is poor therefore travellers should be encouraged to take strict precautions with food, water and personal hygiene.
Travellers should ensure that they have had a primary course of a polio containing vaccine and be offered a booster if it has been more than 10 years since their last dose. Additionally, travellers visiting this country for longer than 4 weeks should discuss with their travel health adviser whether it is necessary to receive a booster if they have not had one in the past 12 months. They should carry proof with them of when they last had this vaccination.
For further information see Poliomyelitis.