Located in Southeast Asia, the Philippines is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. In addition, it has a great cultural offer that mixes Chinese, Hispanic and American influences. Its spectacular beaches, bathed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, allow visitors to relax on the sand or practice all kinds of water sports. Those located on the island of Boracay, one of the most beautiful in the world, stand out. If you plan to visit this country, you can’t miss the Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site with breathtaking scenery, the perfect place for nature and photography lovers. Of course, a trip to the Philippines would not be complete without a visit to Manila, the capital city, which boasts attractions for all tastes, such as St. Augustine’s Church – the oldest in the country, built in 1607 – or the Ocean Park, a theme park with more than 270 species from the region. The Philippines is certainly a destination not to be missed.

Polio Outbreak in 2019

After 19 years of being polio-free, the Philippines declared a polio outbreak in the country on the 19th of September. Two suspected cases of the disease were reported in the southern province of Lanao del Sur and the south-eastern province of Laguna. Philippines Health Secretary Francisco Duque cited “poor immunisation coverage”, a lack of sanitation and hygiene and poor surveillance by health workers as some of the reasons for the re-emergence of polio.

Government scientists in the country have detected traces of polio in the sewage system in Manila and waterways in the city of Davao – a point of concern, as this could cause the rapid spread of the disease considering sub-optimal immunisation coverage in the country.

The World Health Organisation has expressed concern over the circulation of poliovirus in the country and has emphasized the need for vaccination of all children under 5 in order to contain the spread of the disease. 

A national immunisation campaign against polio has been launched by the Philippines in response to the outbreak. While polio vaccinations were reaching 77% of the target numbers in 2016 in Phillipines’ capital, Manila, the numbers have plummeted to a mere 24% as of June this year. An effort to bring up immunisation coverage has begun in earnest in the country as of this month.