Current status of global polio eradication (June 2025)

The world stands at a critical juncture in the fight against polio. Since the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988, polio cases have been reduced by over 99.9%, saving millions from paralysis and death2. However, the final goal of eradication remains elusive, with ongoing transmission of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in two countries and outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) in several others 1,4,6. Wild poliovirus (WPV1) As of early 2025, WPV1 transmission is confined to Afghanistan and Pakistan, the last two endemic countries1,2,4,6. Environmental surveillance in 2025 has detected 80 WPV1-positive samples: 9 in Afghanistan and 71 in Pakistan, indicating persistent transmission in these regions 4. The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are pushing for intensified vaccination campaigns, especially house-to-house efforts and the recruitment of female vaccinators to boost community acceptance and coverage in these countries4. Vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) Outbreaks of cVDPV2 continue to pose a significant challenge, particularly in...