Government response

The Lancet: Polio in Syria and threat of outbreak in Europe

Director of Immunisation Professor David Salisbury response to claims that the outbreak of polio in Syria could threaten Europe

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Published: 8 November 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Department of Health Director of Immunisation Professor David Salisbury said:

The UK is well defended against the possibility of importation of polio from outbreaks such as the present one in Syria. Our population has very high coverage of polio vaccination with more than 95% of young children being vaccinated. We have WHO-approved surveillance in place so we can pick up polio if it does start to circulate in the UK.

The article in the Lancet journal can be viewed here.

Published 8 November 2013