Polio Transmission Risk Persists in Afghanistan, WHO Warns

DID Press: World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the risk of polio transmission in Afghanistan remains, despite nationwide vaccination efforts.

In its latest report, the WHO said the poliovirus continues to circulate in parts of the country, particularly in the south and east, posing a serious threat to children’s health.

The agency noted that several positive cases were recorded over the past year, showing that the disease has not been fully eradicated.

Security challenges, restricted access for health teams, cross-border population movements, and vaccine hesitancy among some families are among the main factors hampering efforts to stop the virus, the WHO added.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where wild poliovirus remains endemic.