Seven New Polio Cases Recorded in Afghanistan, Raising Total to 32

The World Health Organization said in a report that seven new cases of polio caused by wild poliovirus type 1 were recorded in Afghanistan over the past week, bringing the total number of cases since the start of 2026 to 32.

According to the report, four cases were identified in Panjwayi district in Kandahar province. Two further cases were recorded in the districts of Nahr-e Saraj and Kajaki in Helmand province, while one case was also identified in Baghlan-e Jadid district.

The report did not provide further details on the patients’ condition or the exact time the cases were recorded. However, the latest figures show that positive polio cases continue to be reported in several provinces across the country.

Polio, or infantile paralysis, is a contagious viral disease that mainly affects children and can cause permanent paralysis. Afghanistan is among the few countries in the world where wild poliovirus has not yet been completely eradicated.