WHO Africa Confirms End of Poliovirus Type 2 Outbreaks

The WHO Regional Office for Africa confirms the end of poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in 5 African countries after independent outbreak assessments conducted recently. The confirmation follows evaluation of surveillance, laboratory and epidemiological evidence, population immunity, and vaccination campaign performance.

End of Poliovirus Type 2 Outbreaks:

Dimension	Key Details
Countries covered	The confirmation applies to Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Congo, and Uganda.
Burundi measures	Burundi strengthens routine immunisation, investigations, and environmental surveillance.
Uganda measures	Uganda improves disease surveillance and outbreak response after detection in 2024.
Ghana measures	Ghana strengthens laboratory capacity and disease surveillance.
Guinea-Bissau measures	Guinea-Bissau focuses on underserved communities, and no poliovirus is detected since July 2021.
Republic of Congo measures	Republic of Congo strengthens surveillance and vaccination, and the last detection is in December 2023.
Risk concern	Ending an outbreak does not mean that the threat of polio has disappeared, and countries bordering areas where poliovirus continues to circulate remain vulnerable.
Prevention requirements	Continued high vaccination coverage and strong surveillance are essential to prevent re-emergence.
Polio: nature and impact	Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that can cause irreversible paralysis.
Polio: prevention and control	Polio is preventable through vaccination, and strong surveillance, immunisation, and rapid outbreak response are key to stopping transmission.