Mozambique
Status: affected by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 and 2 (cVDPV1, cVDPV2)
Polio this week in Mozambique
- No cVDPV1 case was reported this week. There has been one case reported this year. The number of 2023 cases remain four.
- No cVDPV2 case was reported this week. There was one case reported in 2023.
WHO advice
It is important that all countries, in particular those with frequent travels and contacts with polio-affected countries and areas, strengthen surveillance for AFP cases and commence planned expansion of environmental surveillance in order to rapidly detect any new virus importation and to facilitate a rapid response. Countries, territories and areas should also maintain uniformly high routine immunization coverage at the district level to minimize the consequences of any new virus introduction.
International Health Regulations
As per the advice of an Emergency Committee convened under the International Health Regulations (2005), the risk of international spread of poliovirus remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Countries affected by poliovirus transmission are subject to Temporary Recommendations. To comply with the Temporary Recommendations issued under the PHEIC, any country infected by poliovirus should declare the outbreak as a national public health emergency, ensure the vaccination of residents and long-term visitors and restrict at the point of departure travel of individuals, who have not been vaccinated or cannot prove the vaccination status.
Mozambique is classified by the International Health Regulations (IHR) as a state infected with WPV1 and circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) with potential risk of international spread. It is therefore subject to temporary recommendations as of March 2024.
Travel advice
WHO’s International Travel and Health recommends that 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 IPV within 4 weeks to 12 months of travel.
