34 Countries Identified in the Latest Polio Outbreak Alert

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) released its weekly update, which indicated that three countries reported new polio cases as the poliovirus continues to spread in 2024.

On June 19, 2024, the GPEI reported that Afghanistan confirmed one wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), bringing the total number of cases in 2024 to six.

Nigeria reported three cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), bringing the total for the year to 30.

And South Sudan reported its sixth cVDPV2 case of the year.

The U.S. CDC stated on May 23, 2024, that before traveling to any of these 34 destinations, adults who had previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series may receive a single, lifetime booster dose of the polio vaccine.

In the U.S., the IPV vaccine is generally available at pharmacies and travel clinics. In Africa, the nOPV2 vaccine has become standard in most countries during 2024.

The nOPV2 has been 'triple-locked' using genetic engineering to prevent it from producing a gut reaction.

As a result, the GPEI reports that nOPV2 is more genetically stable than approved oral polio vaccines, with a lower risk of reversion to neurovirulence and less likely to mutate and cause paralysis.