Since the beginning of 2025, the total number of wild poliovirus cases worldwide has remained in the single digits, continuing the downward trend seen in recent years. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the last two countries with endemic wild poliovirus transmission, reporting the majority of Wild Poliovirus (WPV) cases.

As of early August 2025, the World Health Organization and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative report that the number of new wild poliovirus (WPV) cases worldwide remains very low. In the past week, there have been only a handful of newly confirmed cases, primarily concentrated in endemic regions such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. Additionally, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) cases continue to be detected in several countries, mostly in Africa and parts of Asia.

New poliovirus cases and positive environmental isolates this week:

• Pakistan: three WPV1 cases and one positive environmental sample
• Côte d’Ivoire: No cVDPV2 cases and one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
• Ethiopia: one cVDPV2 case and no cVDPV2-positive environmental samples
• Nigeria: five cVDPV2 cases and no cVDPV2-positive environmental samples
• Papua New Guinea: No cVDPV2 cases and six cVDPV2-positive environmental samples
• Yemen: 43 cVDPV2 cases and no cVDPV2-positive environmental samples

In 2024, the Rotary Foundation contributed $50 million towards polio eradication efforts, with a 2-to-1 match from the Gates Foundation, totaling $150 million. Also in 2024, the United States contributed approximately $264 million to polio eradication efforts. The U.S. contribution accounted for 21% of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) budget. GPEI now faces a $133 million shortfall due to the U.S. cuts to USAID this year. The World Health Organization warns that the cuts could delay eradication and potentially lead to more children being paralyzed. Partners in the GPEI are exploring other funding sources and hope the U.S. will eventually resume its support.

Given the urgent need for additional funding, NOW is a great time to remind our members that:

• Rotary’s top priority is polio eradication
• Our efforts have reduced global polio cases by more than 99% since the late 1980s
• We’ve reduced the number of countries with endemic polio from over 200 to only 2
• Their donations to ending polio will be matched 2-to-1 by The Gates Foundation
• Polio anywhere in the world is a threat everywhere in the world
• We can redouble our fundraising and individual donations to help make up some of the shortfall in GPEI funding

Contact your District’s Rotary Foundation Chairperson or PolioPlus Chairperson for additional information or for a presentation to your clubs or district.