Poliomyelitis in Syria
07 Jul 2017
As of 4 July 2017, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative report
2 new cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in the past week, bringing the total of cVDPV2 cases to 24 in 2017. All cases had onset of paralysis between 3 March and 28 May. Twenty two of the cases are from Mayadeen district, Deir-Al-Zour governorate, and two cases are from Raqua and Talabyad districts, Raqua governorate. Additionally, six cVDPV2s were also isolated from contacts, all from Mayadeen district (collected in May and June).
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.