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Poliomyelitis in Pakistan (Update 1)

14 Aug 2017

Two new wild poliovirus-positive environmental samples have been reported in Pakistan.  The most recent of these was collected on 19 July in Karachi.

The total number of polio (WPV1) cases in Pakistan in 2017 is 3, with the most recent case becoming unwell on 11 June, in Killa Abdullah, Balochistan.

Areas with recent polio cases and positive environmental samples include Rawalpindi / Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Quetta and Karachi.

Advice for Travellers

Polio is spread mainly through person to person contact via the faecal-oral route. Particularly in areas where sanitation is poor therefore travellers should be encouraged to take strict precautions with food, water and personal hygiene.

Travellers should ensure that they have had a primary course of a polio containing vaccine and be offered a booster if it has been more than 10 years since their last dose. Additionally, travellers visiting this country for longer than 4 weeks should discuss with their travel health adviser whether it is necessary to receive a booster if they have not had one in the past 12 months. They should carry proof with them of when they last had this vaccination.

For further information see Poliomyelitis.