Four Regions Declared Polio-Free as Global Eradication Effort Continues
Four regions - the Americas, Europe, Western Pacific, and Southeast Asia - have been officially declared polio-free. This significant milestone comes despite ongoing challenges in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria, where the disease persists.
Polio, a highly contagious virus that attacks the nervous system, has been eradicated in these regions thanks to widespread vaccination campaigns. The virus is still a threat in the three remaining countries, however, with outbreaks primarily caused by wild poliovirus type 1 in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and vaccine-derived poliovirus in Nigeria.
Children under five are most vulnerable to the virus, with about 1 in 200 infections leading to permanent paralysis. About 1 percent of cases develop into paralytic polio, and among survivors, 25 to 50 percent may later develop post-polio syndrome. The polio vaccine, developed in 1953 and made available in 1957, has been crucial in preventing the disease.
Eliminating polio globally could save at least $40-50 billion over the next 20 years. Yet, the fight against polio is far from over. In 2025, both Afghanistan and Pakistan reported a rising number of cases and positive environmental samples.
While the Americas, Europe, Western Pacific, and Southeast Asia celebrate their polio-free status, the global effort to eradicate the disease continues. The focus now shifts to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria, where persistent outbreaks pose a significant challenge to achieving a polio-free world.
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