Polio in Syria, July 2017

What is the current situation?

Cases of vaccine-derived polio have been reported in Syria, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Most cases have been reported in Mayadeen District, in Dayr az Zawr Province.

Vaccine-derived polio can occur in places with low vaccination rates and poor sanitation where oral polio vaccine is used. Oral polio vaccine contains a live, weakened version of the virus. In such circumstances, this weakened virus can circulate for an extended period of time and change into a form that can cause paralysis. This form of the vaccine is not used in the United States and most other developed countries.

CDC recommends that all travelers to Syria be fully vaccinated against polio. In addition, adults who have been fully vaccinated should receive a single lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.

What is polio?

Polio is a disease caused by a virus that affects the nervous system. It is spread by person-to-person contact, mainly through exposure to the feces of an infected person. You could also get polio by drinking water or other drinks or eating raw or undercooked food that has been contaminated by the feces of an infected person.

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. Most people recover completely. In rare cases, polio infection causes permanent loss of muscle function in the arms or legs (usually the legs); if there is loss of function of the muscles used for breathing or an infection of the brain, death can occur.

What can travelers do to prevent polio?

• Get the polio vaccine:
  • Ask your doctor or nurse to find out if you are up to date with your polio vaccination and whether you need a booster dose before traveling. Even if you were vaccinated as a child or have been sick with polio before, you may need a booster dose to make sure that you are protected. See individual destination pages for vaccine recommendation information.
  • Make sure children are vaccinated.
  • See the Polio Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) for more information.
• Eat foods and drink beverages that are considered safe: Follow the Food and Water Safety tips to avoid eating or drinking things that could be contaminated with polio virus.
• Practice hygiene and cleanliness:
  • Wash your hands often.
  • If soap and water aren’t available, clean your hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
  • Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
  • Try to avoid close contact, such as kissing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils or cups, with people who are sick.

Traveler Information

• CDC Polio Homepage
• Polio Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
• Food and Water Safety

Clinician Information

All travelers to any country should be up to date on routine vaccinations, including polio vaccine. CDC recommends a single lifetime IPV booster dose for travelers to certain countries. See the Vaccine section in Chapter 3, Poliomyelitis, CDC Health Information for International Travel, for specific vaccination details.

• Polio Vaccine Information for Healthcare Professionals

Additional Information

• Poliomyelitis in Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases—“Pink Book”

Polio in Democratic Republic of the Congo, July 2017

What is the current situation?

Cases of vaccine-derived polio have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the World Health Organization. The cases occurred in Haut-Lomami Province and in Maniema Province.

Vaccine-derived polio can occur in places with low vaccination rates and poor sanitation where oral polio vaccine containing a weakened version of the virus is used. In such circumstances, this weakened virus can circulate for an extended period of time and change into a form that can cause paralysis.

CDC recommends that all travelers to the Democratic Republic of the Congo be fully vaccinated against polio. In addition, adults who have been fully vaccinated should receive a single lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.

What is polio?

Polio is a disease caused by a virus that affects the nervous system. It is spread by person-to-person contact, mainly through exposure to the feces of an infected person. You could also get polio by drinking water or other drinks or eating raw or undercooked food that has been contaminated by the feces of an infected person.

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. Most people recover completely. In rare cases, polio infection causes permanent loss of muscle function in the arms or legs (usually the legs); if there is loss of function of the muscles used for breathing or an infection of the brain, death can occur.

What can travelers do to prevent polio?

• Get the polio vaccine:
  • Ask your doctor or nurse to find out if you are up to date with your polio vaccination and whether you need a booster dose before traveling. Even if you were vaccinated as a child or have been sick with polio before, you may need a booster dose to make sure that you are protected. See individual destination pages for vaccine recommendation information.
  • Make sure children are vaccinated.
  • See the Polio Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) for more information.
• Eat foods and drink beverages that are considered safe: Follow the Food and Water Safety tips to avoid eating or drinking things that could be contaminated with polio virus.
• Practice hygiene and cleanliness:
  • Wash your hands often.
  • If soap and water aren’t available, clean your hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
  • Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
  • Try to avoid close contact, such as kissing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils or cups, with people who are sick.

Traveler Information

• CDC Polio Homepage
• Polio Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
• Food and Water Safety

Clinician Information

All travelers to any country should be up to date on routine vaccinations, including polio vaccine. CDC recommends a single lifetime IPV booster dose for travelers to certain countries. See the Vaccine section in Chapter 3, Poliomyelitis, CDC Health Information for International Travel, for specific vaccination details.

• Polio Vaccine Information for Healthcare Professionals

Additional Information

• Poliomyelitis in Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases—“Pink Book”

North American shortage of Yellow fever vaccine prompts changes in Saskatchewan

Due to a shortage of Yellow Fever vaccine across North America, Saskatchewan clinics will be providing partial doses of the vaccine to residents travelling to affected areas.

Full doses will be made available only if residents are travelling to a country where there is a current outbreak of Yellow Fever; they will be living for more than a year in a country where the risk of contracting the disease is high or they are travelling to a country where they might be at high risk and they require an international Certificate of Vaccination or prophylaxis for entry and/or visa requirements.

The criteria is subject to change at any time depending on availability of the vaccine. 

A partial dose of the vaccine will be provided to those who do not meet the criteria for a full dose. 

When a vial of Yellow Fever vaccine has been opened, it must be used within an hour. 

Therefore, people requiring a partial dose might have to make two visits to their travel clinic. On the first visit, they will receive a travel health assessment and the second to receive the vaccine. This will help ensure no part of the vaccine is wasted. 

In Saskatchewan, Yellow Fever vaccine is only available through travel clinics in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert. 

Some clinics in Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia have already moved to offering partial doses of Yellow Fever vaccine to maximize the supply.

The vaccine shortage could extend until 2018. 

Anyone who has received the Yellow Fever vaccine in the past is considered protected for life. It is important to find and keep the vaccination documents for border proof. 

The risk of transmission of Yellow Fever does not necessarily occur throughout a country. This is important to consider when planning travel to countries, such as Brazil, where the risk of the disease is present. 

If you have not booked your travel, determine if Yellow Fever vaccination is required for your trip. You can access this information from the Public Health Agency of Canada website:http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/countries-pays/index-eng.php

Act Swiftly To Prevent Possible Yellow Fever Outbreak, Public Health Officials Urged

Well-known medical practitioner, Dr Winston Dawes, is raising fears that there may be an outbreak of Yellow Fever and other mosquito-borne illnesses if local public health officials do not act swiftly in the aftermath of the recent heavy rains and flooding.

Dawes says public health officials need to go beyond fogging and intensify public education since the mosquitos that transmit the diseases are normally found in and around homes.

The former senior medical officer of the May Pen Hospital says there is a reported increase in the mosquito population in Clarendon.

The parish was the worst affected by the recent heavy rains that triggered widespread flooding.

He says with reports of an outbreak of Yellow Fever in the South and Central America, there is an urgent need for local officials to act now.

Dawes says a similar occurrence here would have a devastating impact on the economy.

Source