Poliomyelitis in Syria
30 Jun 2017
As of 21 June 2017, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative report
5 new cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in the past week, bringing the total of cVDPV2 cases to 22. All cases had onset of paralysis between 3 March and 25 May. 21 of the cases are from Mayadeen district, Deir-Al-Zour governorate, and one case is from Raqua district, Raqua governorate.
Advice for Travellers
Spread mainly through person to person contact via the faecal-oral route. Particularly in areas where sanitation is poor therefore travellers should be encouraged to take strict precautions with food, water and personal hygiene.
Fitfortravel recommends that all travellers should have received a full primary course of poliomyelitis vaccine. Travellers should be offered a booster of poliomyelitis vaccine if it has been more than 10 years since their last dose.