Poliovirus cases and positive environmental isolates reported this week:
- Afghanistan: One WPV1 case and one WPV1-positive environmental sample. There have been thirty-six WPV1 cases this year and there were 21 in 2025. The most recent case was on September 5, 2026.
- Democratic Republic of Congo: Seven cVDPV2 cases, one cVDPV2-positive environmental samples, and no cVDPV1 cases
- Madagascar: Two cVDPV1 cases and no cVDPV1-positive environmental samples
- Mali: Two cVDPV2 cases
- Nigeria: No cVDPV2 cases, no cVDPV2-positive environmental samples, one cVDPV3 case, and no cVDPV3-positive environmental samples
- Pakistan: One WPV1 case and no WPV1-positive environmental samples. There have been six WPV1 cases this year and there were 31 in 2025. The most recent case was on September 13, 2026.
- Somalia: No cVDPV2 cases and four cVDPV2-positive environmental samples
- South Sudan: One cVDPV1 case, no cVDPV2 cases, no cVDPV1-positive environmental samples, and no cVDPV2-positive environmental samples
As result of years of sustained government leadership across all five countries and the dedication of health workers, communities, and partners, the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa recently confirmed that outbreaks of variant poliovirus have ended in Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Congo, and Uganda.
Other Polio News:
Whether we’re supporting public health initiatives or planning community development projects, meaningful change begins with trust. In the video “Local Trust, Global Impact,” Diana Maria Pirga, a Rotarian and digital communication specialist for UNICEF, discusses how making an effort to understand communities and addressing their concerns can build confidence in lifesaving vaccines. The video offers valuable insights for clubs, Rotary Community Corps, and service leaders who want to deepen community engagement, build trust, and create sustainable impact. Watch the video and explore how community trust can strengthen your service efforts.
What do a traditional Mongolian dance, a 3.5-kilometer walk, a famous Belgian statue and a global fitness challenge have in common? They are all part of this year’s World Polio Day celebrations! From Mongolia to Geneva, Brussels, London and beyond, Rotary members are bringing communities together, raising awareness and keeping the push to end polio firmly in the spotlight. Discover how people around the world are getting involved — and how you can join them.
People are walking, running, and rolling to raise awareness of the fight against polio through the Team End Polio Movement Challenge on the Strava exercise app. It’s not too late to join. Sign up for the challenge now and begin recording your minutes of movement to help Team End Polio achieve its goal between now and October 24th.
WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE) recommended strengthening routine polio vaccination by moving to three doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) particularly in countries at risk of poliovirus transmission.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s Polio Oversight Board approved a 2027 operating budget of approximately US$778 million, with resources prioritized for interrupting wild poliovirus transmission in Afghanistan and Pakistan and responding to priority outbreaks elsewhere.
Pharmazeutische Zeitung, one of Germany’s most respected pharmaceutical publications recently published an op-ed by Frank Intert, an End Polio Now coordinator and pharmacist with expertise in infectious diseases. In it, he cautions against vaccination complacency, using the poliovirus as an example. Despite recent wastewater detections of poliovirus in several European countries, including Germany, no outbreaks have been declared. This is not a coincidence. “High levels of immunity in the population, combined with robust surveillance, prevent the virus from regaining a foothold,” Intert says.
The endpolio.org website had been improved to offer:
- More intuitive, user-friendly navigation
- Direct access to a wide variety of polio eradication resources
- A centralized location for the latest stories from the fight against polio
You can get the latest statistical updates at:https://polioeradication.org/about-polio/polio-this-week.
Contact your District’s Rotary Foundation Chairperson, PolioPlus Chairperson, or Zone End Polio Now Coordinator for additional information or for a presentation to your clubs or district.