A DRAMATIC RISE in the number of cases of polio in several countries has prompted a call for travellers to these areas to get vaccinated.

The World Health Organisation has called the re-emergence of the disease a ‘public health emergency’.

The United Nations health agency convened a two-day closed-door emergency talks last month amid concern that the virus, which currently affects 10 countries worldwide, was spreading.

Now the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) is recommending people travelling to African, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries to ensure they have received the vaccination.

“Vaccination against polio in Ireland is provided as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule,” Dr Suzanne Cotter said said.

“However if somebody has not been vaccinated against polio for whatever reason, then polio vaccination is recommended for all travellers to polio-endemic or epidemic areas.”

She noted that 10 countries currently have ‘active wild poliovirus outbreaks’ – and it could begin spreading further.

In 1988, the disease was endemic in 125 countries, and 350,000 cases were recorded worldwide, according to WHO data.

WHO are especially alarmed that the recent cross-border spread of the disease came during the traditional low season, warning that the situation could deteriorate as the high season begins in May.

The HSPC have said that if you are travelling to the following countries, you need to ensure you have been vaccinated:

• Pakistan*
• Cameroon*
• Syria*
• Nigeria
• Afghanistan
• Equatorial Guinea
• Ethiopia
• Iraq
• Israel
• Somalia

*International certificates of polio vaccination may be required for long-term visitors to, or residents from, these countries before departing.

Additional reporting by AFP

Read: Spread of polio is now an official international health emergency >

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