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Polio in the Philippines (Update 1)

25 Sep 2019

On 24 September 2019, the World Health Organisation  reported a second case of polio in the Philippines. On this occasion, the case was identified in Laguna Province, about 100 km south-east of Metro Manila. This location is about 800km north of the recent case in Lanao del Sur, which gives rise to concerns about (but does not confirm) widespread circulation of polio virus in the country.

Advice for Travellers

The World Health Organisation recommendsthat "all travellers to polio-affected areas be fully vaccinated against polio. Residents (and visitors for more than 4 weeks) from infected areas should receive an additional dose of OPV or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) within 4 weeks to 12 months of travel."

Travellers to polio-affected areas should consider a booster of poliomyelitis vaccine if it has been more than 10 years since most recent vaccination.

For further information see Poliomyelitis.