African Nations Confirm More Polio Cases

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) reported this week, three African nations reported continuing polio outbreaks.

Burkina Faso reported it's first circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) case of the year.

Chad reported two more cVDPV2 cases increasing its total for the year to ten.

And Nigeria reported six more polio cases, raising its total to 16 in 2023.

Furthermore, various countries reported cVDPV2-positive environmental samples as of July 5, 2023.

Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) reconfirmed that the spread of poliovirus remained a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. As of July 2023, the WHO recommends travelers to polio-outbreak areas be fully vaccinated.

As of July 9, 2023, various polio vaccines are available worldwide.