Poliomyelitis in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Update 3)
27 Sep 2017
In the week to 20 September 2017, Democratic republic of the Congo reported 1 case of polio (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
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.