Additional Polio Cases Confirmed in Five Countries

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) latest weekly update confirmed Afghanistan and Pakistan reported more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases this week. WPV1 is still endemic in these countries.

Additionally, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases were reported in Chad (3), Niger (1), and Nigeria (5). 

The World Health Organization recently confirmed that the spread of the poliovirus remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly disease that affects the nervous system.

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

Furthermore, on August 20, 2024, the U.S. CDC reissued a Global Polio Alert—Level 2, Travel Health Notice regarding polio outbreaks and poliovirus detections in 37 countries.

Since polio is a vaccine-preventable disease, the CDC suggests speaking with a travel vaccine expert one month before visiting these countries.