WHO warns Afghanistan remains a hotspot for polio

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over the ongoing transmission of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in southern Afghanistan, warning that the region remains a major hotspot for the virus and poses a threat to global eradication goals.

In a new report issued after the 42nd meeting of the Polio IHR Emergency Committee, WHO confirmed that Afghanistan has reported one new WPV1 case and 30 positive environmental samples in 2025 so far.

While this marks a decline from 2024’s 25 cases, the virus’s persistence in the region coupled with new detections in previously unaffected areas, has prompted concern over immunization gaps.

The Committee noted that transmission in Afghanistan remains most intense in the southern cross-border corridor shared with Pakistan, particularly the Quetta Block and Helmand province. Meanwhile, the east region has shown improved immunity, with a decline in new detections.

Afghanistan has conducted two nationwide and two sub-national vaccination rounds this year, using a site-to-site strategy instead of traditional house-to-house campaigns, WHO reported.

The organization expressed concern that the current strategy fails to consistently reach all children—especially girls and the youngest—raising the risk of continued virus spread.

Ongoing population displacement, especially the return of undocumented Afghan migrants from Pakistan, is compounding the challenge, WHO stated adding that many returnees come from areas with low vaccination coverage.

WHO praised ongoing coordination between Afghan and Pakistani health officials and international partners, including vaccination at border crossings.

Globally, WPV1 remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but the risk of international spread persists, fueled by poor immunization, insecurity, and mobile populations.