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Poliomyelitis in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Update 3)

27 September 2017

In the week to 20 September 2017, Democratic republic of the Congo reportedLink 1 case of type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2). The case is a 17-month-old child in Lwamba, Haut Lomami Province.

This brings the total number of cVDPV2 cases this year to 9. In Haut Lomami Province there have been 7 cases, with most recent onset of paralysis on 27 July. In Maniema Province there have been 2 cases with onset of paralysis on 26 March and 18 April. An additional infection was detected in a healthy individual on 2 May 2017.

Advice for Travellers

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 information please see Poliomyeltis and FAQ pages.