To Stop Polio Spreading, Emergency Measures Needed

Health ministries worldwide recently met at the WHO Executive Board meeting in Geneva. They expressed serious concern about the increasing transmission of wild poliovirus in Asia's last two endemic countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The total number of polio cases in Afghanistan for 2024 was 25, and Pakistan reported 74 cases in 2024.

These ministers noted that 'extraordinary measures were being taken in response.'

WHO Member States commended the implementation of new emergency operational approaches in both countries. 

These approaches include identifying the different operational reasons why children are not being reached, area by area; increasing co-administration of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) alongside oral polio vaccine (OPV); boosting overall immunity levels in children; and improving access to more adequate sanitation infrastructures.

Member States expressed concern about the ongoing variant poliovirus outbreaks (circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses) and urged intensified response to stop these outbreaks by maximizing the impact of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2).

This triple-locked polio vaccine has been administered over 1 billion times recently.

Speaking on behalf of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy commented in a media statement, “I assure you, on behalf of our Region and the leaders of both endemic countries, our commitment to eradicating this virus is stronger than ever. We must reach and vaccinate every child and keep up a robust search for poliovirus, to stop further spread."

In Europe, the unusually high number of poliovirus detections has reinforced the urgency of the wake-up call. From September through December 2024, vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 was detected in wastewater systems of 14 cities in five European countries.

As of February 21, 2025, IPV vaccination is recommended for most people in the United States. Furthermore, a booster dose may be advised for international travelers visiting polio outbreak areas.