WHO Issues New Warning as Polio Transmission Continues in Afghanistan
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the transmission of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) continues in Afghanistan, with the highest number of cases reported in the southern regions of the country. In its latest report from the 44th meeting of the Polio Emergency Committee, the agency announced five new cases in 2025 and described the situation as concerning.
According to the report issued on Wednesday, March 3, the intensity of virus transmission remains high in southern and eastern Afghanistan. WHO attributes the increase in cases in the south to inadequate vaccination coverage and restrictions on implementing house-to-house vaccination campaigns. These restrictions have intensified under the Taliban administration, making it difficult for health teams to access children.
The Emergency Committee also warned about the shortage of female health workers and emphasized that the absence of women in vaccination teams poses a serious challenge to reaching young children, especially in conservative areas. This is significant, as polio eradication programs in Afghanistan have always depended heavily on the extensive involvement of female staff to conduct home visits.
WHO further stated that Afghanistan and Pakistan are considered a single epidemiological block, and continued virus transmission along the shared border increases the risk of spread to other countries. Last year, cross-border virus transmission between the two countries was also documented.
The international agency warned that until polio is completely eradicated worldwide, Afghanistan will remain at risk of international virus transmission. WHO believes that close coordination with Pakistan and effective implementation of vaccination programs in border areas are vital to control the disease.
At the same time, WHO has raised concerns about the rising threat of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV) in some parts of the world, stressing that the only way to prevent further spread of polio is through extensive vaccination, continuous surveillance, and removal of obstacles to health campaigns.
