Israeli travelers alert on polio

The RIVM (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu) (National Institute for Public Health and Environment) advises travelers to make sure they are vaccinated against polio. The type I poliovirus is still found to be present in Israel. The World Health Organization found the poliovirus in the past six months in the sewage in the center and south of the country.

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Polio vaccination has been part of the Dutch National vaccination program since 1957. People vaccinated over ten years ago may not be sufficiently protected anymore. Travelers may turn to a nearby GGD (Gemeentelijke Gezondheids Dienst) (municipal health service) to be re-vaccinated.

Infection with the poliovirus can go unnoticed. People who are not sick can, however, spread the virus. Flu-like symptoms occur after seven to ten days. In rare cases, polio leads to paralysis by affecting the nerves.