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Poliomyelitis in South Sudan (Update)

01 Nov 2013

South Sudan has been removed from the WHO list of countries with wild polio virus (WPV1).

Results of additional molecular and genetic testing by the Global Polio Specialized Laboratory at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have revealed that an initial instance of simultaneous handling of test specimens from a number of countries in the Horn of Africa resulted in the unintended contamination of the South Sudan specimens with WPV1.

Advice for Travellers

The polio booster/course recommendation for travellers to South Sudan has been removed from the country record.