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)
- No cVDPV1 case was reported this week. There have been five cases reported this year and 106 cases in 2023.
- Two cVDPV2 cases were reported in Maindombe. There have been eight cases reported this year and 118 cases in 2023.
- No cVDPV2-positive environmental samples were reported this week.
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 March 2024.
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.