The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported continued transmission of wild poliovirus in Afghanistan, highlighting the ongoing challenge of eliminating the disease in one of the world’s two remaining polio-endemic countries.
According to the latest WHO update, Afghanistan reported new wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in 2026. The organization said transmission remains concentrated in key areas, particularly Afghanistan’s southern region, where prolonged circulation of the virus continues to raise concern.
The WHO has warned that vaccination and surveillance gaps remain significant obstacles to stopping transmission. In Afghanistan, house-to-house vaccination campaigns have not been conducted since October 2024 because of security concerns, while the limited participation of women health workers has also affected efforts to reach children, particularly younger children.
The organization says Afghanistan and Pakistan should continue to be treated as a single epidemiological bloc because of population movement and the risk of cross-border transmission. WHO has stressed the importance of strong surveillance, synchronized vaccination campaigns and sustained coordination between the two countries.
Despite progress in some regions, the WHO’s Polio IHR Emergency Committee said continued transmission in Afghanistan and Pakistan means the international risk from poliovirus remains a public health concern.
The latest cases underline the importance of maintaining vaccination efforts and ensuring that children in high-risk and hard-to-reach communities are protected against the disease.