New Polio Cases Confirmed Last Week

The WHO Director-General convened the thirty-eighth meeting of the Emergency Committee on the international spread of poliovirus in late March 2024. 

The Committee unanimously agreed that the risk of the international spread of poliovirus remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and recommended the extension of Temporary Recommendations for a further three months until July 2024.

Regarding a weekly update, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative reported on April 17, 2024, that three African countries reported wild poliovirus (WPV1) and circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV) cases last week.

Chad reported one cVDPV2 case in Mandoul, making it the first in 2024. The number of 2023 cases remains 55.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo reported one cVDPV1 case in Haut-Katanga, the first this year. The number of polio cases in 2023 remains at 106, and 117 cases of cVDPV2 in 2023.

Nigeria confirmed one cVDPV2 case last week in Kebbi, the eighth this year. There have been 87 cases reported in 2023.

The U.S. CDC publishes travel advisories for countries reporting active polio cases and recommends fully vaccinating people before visiting these countries.

To understand polio vaccination options, including booster doses, the CDC suggests speaking with a travel vaccine advisor one month before traveling abroad.