Philippines

Status: vulnerable to re-infection

June 2021: Philippines outbreak officially closed: with no new virus detected in the Philippines in more than 16 months as a result of comprehensive outbreak response, the outbreak has officially been closed.  The Global Polio Eradication Initiative commend the Department of Health, government agencies, partners and civil society efforts that ended the polio outbreak in the country.

WHO 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.

International Health Regulations

Philippines is classified by the International Health Regulations (IHR) as a state infected with cVDPV1 and cVDPV2, with potential risk of international spread. It is therefore subject to temporary recommendations as of February 2021.

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.

More on vaccine-derived polioviruses