South Sudan

Status: affected by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus 2 (cVDPV2)

Polio this week in South Sudan

  • Two cVDPV2 cases were reported in the Upper Nile. One had an onset of paralysis in December and the one in January, making it the first cVDPV2 case in the country this year. There were 3 cases reported last year.

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

Countries affected by poliovirus circulation are subject to temporary recommendations issued by the Emergency Committee of the International Health Regulations on Poliovirus, under the auspices of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern.  The latest report by the Committee is effective 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.