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Polio in the Philippines (Lanao Del Sur, Mindanao)

23 Sep 2019

During the week ending 20 September 2019, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative reported a case of polio in Lanao Del Sur district, Mindanao. The infection was identified in a patient who became paralysed on 26 June 2019.

Advice for Travellers

The World Health Organisation recommendsthat "all travellers to polio-affected areas be fully vaccinated against polio. Residents (and visitors for more than 4 weeks) from infected areas should receive an additional dose of OPV or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) within 4 weeks to 12 months of travel."

Travellers to polio-affected areas should consider a booster of poliomyelitis vaccine if it has been more than 10 years since most recent vaccination.

For further information see Poliomyelitis.