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Polio this week

Rotary in action – protecting children in Pakistan

In Pakistan, Rotary’s contribution to polio eradication goes far beyond fundraising. Working alongside the national programme and partners, Rotarians are helping bring vaccines and other essential health services closer to communities, build trust with families and reach children who might otherwise be missed – demonstrating the unique value of Rotary’s local networks and sustained commitment to finishing polio for good.  More. 

Independent Monitoring Board publishes its 25th report

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) has published its 25th report, providing a candid assessment of progress and remaining challenges on the road to a polio-free world. The report highlights encouraging progress in Pakistan alongside a shifting epidemiological focus towards Afghanistan, while setting out 21 recommendations to accelerate eradication and strengthen the systems needed to sustain a polio-free world.

Global Certification Commission reviews progress towards a polio-free world

The Global Certification Commission for the Eradication of Poliomyelitis (GCC) met in Geneva last week to review progress towards global polio eradication, including updates from all six WHO Regions and the two countries where wild poliovirus remains endemic. The Commission also reviewed the status and performance of poliovirus surveillance – a critical component of demonstrating that transmission has been interrupted. The GCC’s report and recommendations will be published in due course.

Summary of new polioviruses this week

  • Afghanistan :  one WPV1-positive environmental sample
  • Pakistan :  one WPV1 case and eight WPV1-positive environmental samples
  • Central African Republic (CAR):  one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
  • DR Congo :  six cVDPV2 cases
  • South Sudan :  five cVDPV1 cases and one cVDPV2 case
Country updates as of 07 October 2026

More information on the countries that have reported cases and/or environmental samples this week.

  • No WPV1 cases were reported this week. The total number of cases in 2026 is 35 (most recent case: 31 August 2026). The total number of cases in 2025 is 21.
  • One WPV1-positive environmental sample was reported this week, collected on 24 August 2026, from Hilmand (most recent positive environmental sample: 26 August 2026).

  • One WPV1 case was reported this week, with onset of paralysis on 4 August 2026, from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The total number of cases in 2026 is five (most recent case:  7 August 2026). The total number of cases in 2025 is 31.
  • Eight WPV1-positive environmental samples were reported this week, collected in September, from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Punjab (most recent positive environmental sample:  10 September 2026).

  • No cVDPV2 case was reported this week. There are five cases reported in 2026 (most recent case:  1 July 2026). There were two cases reported in 2025.
  • One cVDPV2-positive environmental sample was reported this week, from Region 7, collected on 9 September 2026 (most recent positive environmental sample).

  • Six cVDPV2 cases were reported this week from Tanganyika and Lualaba, with onsets of paralysis in August 2026. The number of cVDPV2 cases in 2026 is 64 (most recent case:  27 August 2026). The number of cVDPV2 cases in 2025 is seven.
  • No cVDPV2-positive environmental samples were reported this week (most recent positive environmental sample: 14 May 2026).
  • No cVDPV1 cases were reported this week. The number of cVDPV1 cases from 2025 is one (onset of paralysis: 25 June 2025).

  • Five cVDPV1 cases were reported this week, from Jonglei and Central Equatoria, with onsets of paralysis between 15 July 2026 and 1 September 2026 (most recent case). There are 15 cVDPV1 cases reported in 2026.
  • One cVDPV2 case was reported this week, from Lakes, with onset of paralysis on 22 August 2026 (most recent case).  There are four cVDPV2 cases reported in 2026.
  • No cVDPV1-positive environmental samples were reported this week (most recent positive environmental sample: 14 July 2026).
  • No cVDPV2-positive environmental samples were reported this week (most recent positive environmental sample: 12 May 2026).