Polio in Gambia

On 8 July 2024 at the thirty-ninth meeting of the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) on the international spread of poliovirus, the World Health Organization reported new emergence of poliovirus in Gambia.

Advice for Travellers

Poliomyelitis is spread mainly through person to person contact via the faecal-oral route.

• All travellers should take care with personal and food and water hygiene.
• Travellers should be offered a booster dose of poliomyelitis vaccine if it has been more than 10 years since their last dose.
• Travellers who intend to visit this country for more than 4 weeks can receive a booster dose of polio containing vaccine if it is more than 12 months since they had it last and may wish to carry proof of vaccination.

For further information see the TRAVAX Gambia country page and Poliomyelitis page.