Global Polio Status
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where wild poliovirus transmission has never been interrupted. Click either country below for its current status.
Countries with active wild poliovirus
Click Pakistan or Afghanistan for their current status and case count.
Pakistan
Afghanistan
Pakistan
Pakistan is affected by ongoing endemic wild poliovirus transmission.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is focusing on reaching every last child in Pakistan with vaccines, strengthening surveillance and maintaining political commitment, financial resources and technical support at all levels.
- National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) Newsletters
- Technical Advisory Group Reports
- End Polio Pakistan website
Polio this week in Pakistan
- No WPV1 case was reported this week. The total number of cases in 2026 is four (most recent case: 7 August 2026). The total number of cases in 2025 is 31.
- One WPV1-positive environmental sample was reported this week, collected from Sindh on 6 August 2026 (most recent positive environmental sample: 17 August 2026).
International Health Regulations
Countries affected by poliovirus circulation are subject to temporary recommendations issued by the Emergency Committee of the International Health Regulations on Poliovirus, under the auspices of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The latest report by the Committee is effective May 2026.
Travel advice
WHO's International Travel and Health recommends that all travellers to polio-affected areas be fully vaccinated against polio. Residents (and visitors for more than 4 weeks) from infected areas should receive an additional dose of OPV or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) within 4 weeks to 12 months of travel.
Afghanistan
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is focusing on reaching every last child in Afghanistan with vaccines, strengthening surveillance for polio and maintaining the programme's neutrality in a complex landscape, while ensuring financial resources and technical support at all levels.
Afghanistan is affected by ongoing endemic wild poliovirus transmission. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is focusing on reaching every last child in Afghanistan with vaccines, strengthening surveillance and maintaining political commitment, financial resources and technical support at all levels.
- Afghanistan Polio Eradication 2024 Annual Report
- Infographic: Afghanistan monthly polio snapshot
- Technical Advisory Group Reports
Polio this week in Afghanistan
- Seven WPV1 cases were reported this week, from Hilmand, Kandahar and Baghlan, with onsets of paralysis in August 2026. The total number of cases in 2026 is 32 (most recent case: 31 August 2026). The total number of cases in 2025 is 21.
- No WPV1-positive environmental samples were reported this week (most recent positive environmental sample: 27 July 2026).
International Health Regulations
Countries affected by poliovirus circulation are subject to temporary recommendations issued by the Emergency Committee of the International Health Regulations on Poliovirus, under the auspices of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The latest report by the Committee is effective May 2026.
Travel advice
WHO's International Travel and Health recommends that all travellers to polio-affected areas be fully vaccinated against polio. Residents (and visitors for more than 4 weeks) from infected areas should receive an additional dose of OPV or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) within 4 weeks to 12 months of travel.
Last updated 1 September 2026.