Democratic Republic of the Congo
Status: affected by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) and type 2 (cVDPV2)
Polio this week in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)
- Two cVDPV1 cases were reported in Haut Lomami and Tanganyika with onsets of paralysis in October and November. This brings the total number of cVDPV2 cases in 2022 to 117.
- Three cVDPV2 cases were reported in Mongala and Tanganyika with onsets of paralysis in October and November. There are 321 cVDPV2 cases in 2022.
International Health Regulations
Democratic Republic of the Congo is classified by the International Health Regulations (IHR) as a state infected with circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) with potential risk of international spread and cVDPV2, with or without evidence of local transmission. It is therefore subject to temporary recommendations as of January 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.
