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)
- Six cVDPV1 cases were reported; one each in Haut Lomami and Haut Katanga and four in Tanganyika. There have been 60 cases reported this year and 146 cases in 2022.
- Three cVDPV2 cases were reported; one each in Haut Katanga, Lualaba and Tshopo. There have been 85 cases reported this year and 368 cases in 2022.
- Four cVDPV2 positive environmental samples were reported; three in Kinshasa and one in Lualaba.
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 August 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.
