Egypt requires travellers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other countries to present a polio vaccination certificate. This applies to residents and foreigners who’ve stayed in the designated countries for over four weeks. Both OPV and IPV polio vaccines are accepted.
Global Concerns Over Polio
The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee recently raised concerns about Pakistan and Afghanistan’s efforts in eradicating polio. Data from 2023 shows persistent risks in Pakistan, with two polio cases in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and several positive environmental samples. Meanwhile, Afghanistan reported five new polio cases from the Nangarhar province. The committee highlighted the challenges in tackling polio, such as political instability, security issues, and vaccination boycotts in certain regions.
Pakistan’s caretaker health minister emphasized the importance of increased routine immunization to combat polio. The committee warned of risks associated with high population movements between Afghanistan and Pakistan, noting a decrease in genetic clusters of the polio virus over the years.
