Epidemiological update: Suspected polio cases in Syria confirmed by WHO, 30 October 2013

Epidemiological update

​​Ten of the 22 acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases in the Syrian Arab Republic suspected of being caused by wild poliovirus have been confirmed as wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) by the World Health Organization (WHO).

ECDC published a rapid risk assessment on 24 October in response to the suspected polio cases and the risk posed to the EU/EEA. The confirmation by WHO of these ten cases does not change the ECDC risk assessment and its recommendations that remain valid.