Poliomyelitis in Afghanistan (Update 1)

On 9 August the Global Polio Eradication Initiative reported a new positive environmental sample of vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV). The sample was collected on 7 July 2017 in Lashkargah in Helmand Province.

The number of cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) remains at 5, with the most recent case having onset of paralysis on 19 June 2017.

Advice for Travellers

Afghanistan is classified by the WHO as a polio infected country. 

Authorities in the UK recommend the following:

Travellers should be encouraged to take strict precautions with food, water and personal hygiene.

In Scotland, Health Protection Scotland (HPS) advise:

• Where visiting a polio infected country for longer than 4 weeks travellers can be given a booster dose of a polio-containing vaccine if they have not had one in the past 12 months (this advice supersedes the current advice in the Green Book).
• Travellers should acquire this additional dose within 12 months of the date they plan to leave the polio-infected country.
• Where visiting a polio infected country for less than 4 weeks travellers should ensure they are up-to-date with routine polio vaccination, including 10 yearly boosters.
• Travellers should carry proof of vaccination. In particular, for Pakistan this should be documented on the standard International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). The ICVP is the 'Yellow Card' normally used for yellow fever vaccination.
• In Scotland, paper ICVP’s can be obtained from HPS by contacting TRAVAX administration, email your FULL NAME and FULL POSTAL ADDRESS to: NSS.HPSTravax@nhs.net electronic copies can be downloaded from WHO

In England, Public Health England and NaTHNaC have issued advice which is different to that in Scotland (please look at Travel Health Pro Clinical updates for full details).

For further infromation please see Poliomyeltis and FAQ pages.