5 African Countries Halt Polio Outbreaks, Marking Progress Toward Eradication

Five African countries have successfully interrupted the spread of poliovirus, WHO said, marking a major milestone in the continent’s efforts to protect children and move closer to eradicating the disease.

Following independent technical assessments conducted between January and June 2026, transmission was found to have been interrupted in Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Congo and Uganda, the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa said.

The assessments, carried out by teams from the Independent Outbreak Response Assessment process, reviewed disease surveillance, laboratory and epidemiological data, as well as the quality of vaccination campaigns and population immunity. Based on the findings, WHO Africa confirmed the closure of poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in all five countries.

“These outbreak closures demonstrate what can be achieved through strong national leadership, dedicated health workers and close collaboration between governments, communities and partners,” said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.