Polio Cases Rise in Afghanistan as 32 Cases Recorded This Year
The latest weekly update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) shows that Afghanistan recorded seven new polio cases in one week, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in 2026 to 32.
According to the report, the new cases were recorded in Helmand, Kandahar and Baghlan provinces. The latest case was reported with the onset of paralysis symptoms on August 31. No new positive environmental samples for the poliovirus were reported during the same week.
Afghanistan remains one of only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus is endemic. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative and the World Health Organization continue to stress the importance of routine vaccination, particularly for children in high-risk areas.
Meanwhile, a polio vaccination campaign was conducted in Afghanistan from September 21 to 24, targeting nearly 12.77 million children under the age of five.
Health organisations are urging families to ensure that children under five receive the polio vaccine during every campaign, as repeated doses can increase children’s protection against the disease.
