Iran

Status: Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) detected in environmental sample

WHO risk assessment

WHO assesses the risk of international spread of this strain of WPV1 from Iran to be low.  WHO assesses the risk of further international spread from Pakistan and/or Afghanistan to be high.

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.