During its 21st meeting the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR) regarding the international spread of poliovirus, reviewed the data on wild poliovirus (WPV1) and circulating vaccine derived polioviruses (cVDPV).
The Committee unanimously agreed that the risk of international spread of poliovirus remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and recommended the extension of Temporary Recommendations to a number of Countries. Papua New Guinea (the most recent detection was recorded on 7 November 2018) was included in the list as a Country infected with cVDPV1 with potential risk of international spread.
Based on these Recommendations and implementing a specific advise issued by the Italian Ministry of Health, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has instructed the Embassy of Italy in Singapore to require that Visa applicants from Papua New Guinea (residents and people who have stayed in the country for more than 4 weeks) produce, in addition to the other documents, an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis attesting that they have received a dose of polio vaccine between 4 weeks and 12 months prior to their planned departure.
Therefore, please be advised that, starting from 1 October 2019, no Visa applications from Papua New Guinea applicants will be accepted without the presentation of the afore-mentioned certificate.
