Democratic Republic of the Congo

Status: affected by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2)

Polio this week in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)

  • No case of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) was reported this week. There are 10 cases reported in 2021 so far. The total number of 2020 cases remains at 81.
  • Read our Democratic Republic of the Congocountry page for more information.

International Health Regulations

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is classified by the International Health Regulations (IHR) as a state infected with cVDPV2, with potential risk of international spread.  It is therefore subject to temporary recommendations as of August 2021.

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.

More on vaccine-derived polioviruses