The HSE has recommended that travellers to a number of African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries need to ensure that they have been vaccinated against polio following the emergence of the virus in these areas.

Specialist in public health medicine at the HSE's Heath Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), Dr Suzanne Cotter said that in the past 12 months there has been an emergence of wild polio virus transmission in many countries where previously polio was believed to be well controlled.

At present, 10 countries have active wild polio virus outbreaks that could spread to other countries through the movement of people, she said.

"The three countries most likely to export virus via travellers are Pakistan, Cameroon, Syria. However polio virus has been identified in seven other countries, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Israel, and Somalia."

Dr Cotter said currently, residents from, and long term visitors to, Pakistan, Cameroon, Syria are now required to show international certificates of polio vaccination before departing from these countries.

"Vaccination against polio in Ireland is provided as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule. However if somebody has not been vaccinated against polio for whatever reason, then polio vaccination is recommended for all travellers to polio-endemic or epidemic areas," said Dr Cotter.

For information on immunisation in Ireland visit www.immunisation.ie

For information on polio visit www.hpsc.ie

Visit irishhealth.com's unique Child Immunisation Tracker, which alerts you to the vaccines your children need.