WHO Warns of Rising Polio Cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan
WHO confirmed nine new polio cases this year, eight in Pakistan and one in Afghanistan, warning refugee returns and poor access heighten cross-border transmission risks.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a surge in polio cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan, raising fresh concerns about the global fight against the disease.
In its statement released on Monday, July 28, WHO confirmed nine new cases this year, eight in Pakistan and one in Afghanistan.
The agency identified Afghanistan’s southern provinces and Pakistan’s Quetta, Karachi, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions as key hotspots for transmission.
It further noted that the return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan is increasing the risk of cross-border spread of the virus.
WHO emphasized that eradicating polio requires stronger regional cooperation and consistent access to all children, particularly those in conflict-hit and marginalized communities.
Health experts caution that without urgent action, the progress made in recent decades could be undone, allowing polio to re-emerge as a wider health threat.
The WHO has urged governments, aid agencies, and local leaders to step up vaccination drives and ensure no child remains unprotected against the virus.
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