Israel’s Ministry of Health has reported a laboratory-confirmed case of polio in Jerusalem in an unvaccinated individual. A single clinical case of polio often indicates hundreds of asymptomatic infections within the population. While the risk to the average traveler remains low, a single lifetime polio booster is now recommended for all travelers to Jerusalem, in addition to the standard primary childhood vaccination series.
Circulating vaccine-derived polio virus has also been detected through environmental surveys in Australia, the United Kingdom, and Finland. Polio virus has been found in several other European and high-income countries in recent months. Consult with your travel health specialist to ensure your polio vaccination is up to date or determine if you need a booster.
