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The third meeting of the Emergency Committee under the IHR (2005) regarding the international spread of wild poliovirus in 2014, took place between 2-7 November 2014.
It was noted that the international spread of wild poliovirus has continued since 31 July 2014, with at least three new exportations from Pakistan into Afghanistan. No other documented international spread of wild poliovirus has been reported since March 2014.
As new poliomyelitis cases have increased sharply during the high transmission season, the risk of international spread from Pakistan is considered to have increased substantially; there has been no significant improvement in reducing transmission of the virus. Of the nine currently infected States, only two have reported new cases since 31 July: Somalia (1 case) and Afghanistan (7 cases, mostly imported).
The Committee assessed that the event still constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and recommended the extension of the Temporary Recommendations for a further 3 months.
(Via WHO News - accessed 17/11/14)
Travellers should be encouraged to take strict precautions with food, water and personal hygiene.
In addition, in order to comply with the WHO and ECDC recommendations and also to avoid travellers being vaccinated in the polio-infected country, authorities in the UK have made vaccination recommendations.
Please refer to individual country records for further information.
In England, Public Health England and NaTHNaC have issued interim advice which is slightly different to that in Scotland (please look at NaTHNaC Clinical updates for full details).
