WHO Declares Polio Outbreaks Over in Five African Nations

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the closure of poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Congo, and Uganda.

Independent Outbreak Response Assessment (OBRA) teams conducted assessments between January and June 2026, reviewing surveillance, laboratory, and epidemiological data, and concluded that transmission has been interrupted in these five countries. The WHO Regional Office for Africa announced the closure of these outbreaks. These closures reflect years of sustained government leadership, the dedication of health workers, communities, and partners, and successful interruption of transmission through targeted vaccination campaigns, epidemiological investigations, and expanded environmental surveillance.

Uganda strengthened surveillance and response after poliovirus detection in May 2024, while Ghana combined laboratory investments with disease surveillance and rapid outbreak response. Guinea-Bissau has had no poliovirus detections since July 2021, and the Republic of Congo reported its last detection in December 2023. The WHO stated that continued vigilance, strong surveillance, and high immunization coverage remain essential to protect children and prevent future outbreaks, noting the risk of poliovirus reimportation as demonstrated by a recent detection in Madagascar.