Health Alert:  U.S. Embassy Jakarta, Indonesia (March 6, 2019)

Location:  Papua Province, Indonesia

Event:  On February 28, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 2 Travel Notice – Practice increased precautions due to a polio outbreak in Papua Province, Indonesia. This outbreak is caused by vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV), a sign of low oral polio vaccine coverage in the country.

World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC advise travelers coming from polio free countries have the appropriate vaccinations against polio before travelling to areas with active polio virus transmission.

In addition, before departing Indonesia, persons of all ages residing in a polio-infected country and long term visitors (in Indonesia for more than 4 weeks) travelling to polio free countries should comply with recommended polio vaccine boosters, to reduce the risk of poliovirus shedding, which could lead to the reintroduction of poliovirus in a polio free area.

U.S. Embassy Jakarta anticipates the Government of Indonesia will release more information and details about its response plan in the coming days.  We will send additional alerts updating U.S. citizens with guidance.

Actions to Take:

Assistance:   

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