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Poliomyelitis in Syria (Update 4)

04 October 2017

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports 7 new cases of polio (cVDPV2) have been confirmed in the week to 3 October 2017. The cases are in Mayadeen district (5 cases), Boukamal (1 cases) and Thawra district (1 case).

The most recent case, (Boukamal) is an unvaccinated child with onset of paralysis on 5 August. The total number of cVDPV2 cases in the current outbreak is 47.

Poliovirus infection has also been identified in samples taken from a healthy child who arrived as a displaced person in Damascus on 19 August 2017.

Advice for Travellers

Syria 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 receive 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 information please see Poliomyelitis and FAQ pages.