Ethiopia
Status: no longer affected by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus 2 (cVDPV2) but remains vulnerable to re-infection
Polio this week in Ethiopia
- One cVDPV2 case was reported in Gambella. There have been 12 cases reported this year and one case in 2023.
- No cVDPV2-positive environmental sample was reported this week.
WHO risk assessment
WHO assesses the risk of international spread of cVDPV2 across the Horn of Africa to be high.
WHO advice
It is important that all countries, in particular those with frequent travel and contacts with polio-affected countries and areas, strengthen surveillance for AFP cases 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
Ethiopia is classified by the International Health Regulations (IHR) as a state infected with cVDPV2, with or without evidence of local transmission. It is therefore subject to temporary recommendations (issued as of May 2023).
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 inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) within 4 weeks to 12 months of travel.
