Democratic Republic of the Congo
Status: affected by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus
Status: affected by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is affected by four separate strains of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2).
Polio this week in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)
- No case of cVDPV2 was reported this week. There are 34 cVDPV2 cases in 2019 and 20 in 2018.
- Read our Democratic Republic of the Congo country page for more information.
- Learn more about vaccine-derived polioviruses through this short animation or this ‘Coffee with Polio Experts’ video.
International Health Regulations
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is classified by the International Health Regulations (IHR) as a state infected with cVDPV2, with potential risk of international spread. It is therefore subject to temporary recommendations as of September 2019.
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.
