WHO warns polio virus transmission continues in Afghanistan, south hardest hit

The World Health Organization warned in its latest report from the 44th meeting of the Polio Emergency Committee that transmission of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) continues in Afghanistan, with the southern regions reporting the highest number of cases.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the WHO said five new WPV1 cases were recorded in Afghanistan in 2025, with intense transmission observed in southern and eastern parts of the country.

The agency said transmission in the south has been exacerbated by insufficient vaccination coverage and restrictions on conducting house-to-house immunization campaigns.

The Emergency Committee also raised concerns over the limited presence of female health workers, warning that it hampers access to young children, particularly in conservative communities.

WHO stressed that Afghanistan and Pakistan function as a single epidemiological block, and continued cross-border transmission increases the risk of further spread to other areas.

The organization warned that until polio is fully eradicated globally, Afghanistan remains at risk of international spread, calling for close coordination with Pakistan and sustained vaccination efforts in border areas.

WHO also cautioned about the rising risk of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV) in some parts of the world, emphasizing that mass immunization and continuous surveillance remain the only effective tools to prevent further outbreaks.

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