Text of Health Canada's Polio advice
Here is the full text of Helath Canada's advice:
Dominican Republic & Haiti
Between July 12 and December 8, 2000, a total of 7 confirmed cases of poliovirus type 1 have been reported by both the Ministries of Health of the Dominican Republic (DR) and Haiti, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). In the DR, an additional 13 cases of acute flaccid paralysis are now being studied for the presence of polio. In Haiti, a single confirmed case of type 1 virus has been reported to date.
The current outbreak of poliomyelitis in Dominican Republic and Haiti raises concern because the Western Hemisphere has been free of cases of wild poliovirus since 1991. As well, this outbreak appears to be caused by an unusual derivative of the Sabin type 1 oral poliovirus vaccine.
A mass vaccination campaign has already started in the Dominican Republic. In Haiti, nationwide vaccination is planned for January through March 2001. The Ministries of Health of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, with the assistance of PAHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are working to determine the extent and cause of this polio outbreak.
Source: Pan American Health Organization
Recommendations
Health Canada strongly recommends that Canadian international travellers contact a physician or travel medicine clinic prior to departure for an individual risk assessment to determine their need for immunizations.
For all travel, travellers should ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations -- diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella -- are up to date.
Canadians travelling to Haiti, the DR or the islands of Cape Verde at this time are advised to ensure that their polio vaccination status is up to date. Primary immunization of children and, if indicated, primary immunization of adults or a booster dose for adults, are recommended in accordance with the recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
