Yemen
Status: affected by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus 1 (cVDPV1) and (cVDPV2)
Yemen is affected by a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) and (cVDPV2).
With large-scale population movements with other areas of the Horn of Africa, notably Djibouti and northern Somalia, a more thorough Horn of Africa risk assessment to both type 1 and type 2 poliovirus is being conducted.
Polio this week in Yemen
- No cVDPV2 cases were reported this week. There have been 33 cases reported this year and eight in 2023.
- No cVDPV2-positive environmental samples were reported this week.
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
Yemen 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 by the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Polio Eradication (issued as of August 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.
