Polio in Africa was confined to the region of Nigeria but recently since January 2008, previously polio-free countries have reported imported polio strains. Hunting countries now reporting polio cases include Burkina Faso, Benin, Ethiopia, Uganda, Cameroon and CAR. Botswana reported its first new polio infection in February 2009. South Africa remains polio free.

• Poliomyelitis is a disease that primarily affects the nervous system. It is spread via the faecal-oral route from person to person and can also be transmitted via dirty food and water.
• Polio vaccination is part of all national vaccine recommendations and a course of vaccine is usually started in childhood. Adults are then given a booster dose if they are travelling, every ten years.
• African hunters should make sure their polio vaccination is up-to-date and be aware of good hygiene practices.

Related topics:

• Health During Hunt
• Health After Hunt
• Tetanus
• Diphtheria
• Tuberculosis
• Measles
• Yellow Fever
• Typhoid
• Meningitis
• Hepatitis
• Rabies
• Cholera
• Schistosomiasis
• Malaria
• Malaria In African Hunting Countries
• African Tick Bite Fever
• Sleeping Sickness