Polio Cases Confirmed in Six Countries

According to the weekly update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), six countries reported poliovirus cases, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, with additional wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases.

The GPEI says both countries have already doubled the cases they reported in 2023.

As of August 7, 2024, Afghanistan reported two new WPV1 cases, bringing its total to 11.

Pakistan reported three more cases, increasing its total to 12 for 2024.

Four African countries reported cases involving circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2).

The Democratic Republic of the Congo reported two cVDPV2 cases. Ethiopia reported one case, boosting its total to 12. Nigeria reported one case, elevating its total to 38, and South Sudan reported its 7th cVDPV2 case for 2024. 

The U.S. CDC says most people with polio do not feel sick. Some people have only minor symptoms, such as fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, stiffness in the neck and back, and pain in the arms and legs.

In rare cases, polio infection causes permanent loss of muscle function.

Polio can be fatal if the breathing muscles are paralyzed or if the brain is infected.

Furthermore, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series may receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine before traveling to any destination reporting polio cases. Polio vaccines are generally available at health clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.