Poliomyelitis in Pakistan (Update 2)
07 Sep 2017
On 6 September 2017 the Global Polio Eradication Initiative
reported one new polio case (WPV1) in the past week, from Karachi, Pakistan. The case became paralysed on 11 August 2017, and is the most recent case in the country. The total number of WPV1 cases for 2017 is now four.
Also reported this week are four new WPV1-positive environmental samples, three of them also from Karachi.
Advice for Travellers
Polio is 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.
Travellers should ensure that they have had a primary course of a polio containing vaccine and be offered a booster if it has been more than 10 years since their last dose. Additionally, travellers visiting this country for longer than 4 weeks should discuss with their travel health adviser whether it is necessary to receive a booster if they have not had one in the past 12 months. They should carry proof with them of when they last had this vaccination.
For further information see Poliomyelitis.