Polio's last strongholds: Why Pakistan and Afghanistan can’t defeat the virus
Despite global efforts to eradicate polio, the virus remains entrenched in Pakistan and Afghanistan due to political instability, insecurity, and gaps in vaccination coverage. Cases have surged in Afghanistan this year, highlighting the fragility of progress in the final stages of eradication.
Why it matters
The persistence of polio in these regions poses a continued global health risk and underscores the difficulty of public health initiatives in conflict zones.
As countries mark World Polio Day, the disease remains entrenched in Pakistan and Afghanistan, even as it has been eliminated from almost every other part of the world. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is marking the day with a plain message: political commitment matters more than ever.Afghanistan has emerged as the bigger concern this year, reporting 42 cases of wild poliovirus type 1 in 2026, twice the 21 recorded in the whole of 2025. Pakistan, meanwhile, has reported six cases, down sharply from 31 last year. The two countries have together reported 48 cases so far this year, against 52 in all of 2025.The resurgence follows a dramatic reversal in progress.In 2023, the two countries reported just 12 cases between them, with six each. The total surged to 99 in 2024, highlighting how fragile the gains against the virus remain.The threat extends beyond reported cases of paralysis.
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