KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Afghanistan has recorded 15 cases of wild poliovirus so far in 2026, the highest number of cases reported by any country this year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), as it remains one of the last two countries where the disease is still endemic.
In its latest weekly update released on Tuesday, the WHO said a total of 18 wild poliovirus cases have been detected this year, with 15 in Afghanistan and three in neighboring Pakistan.
According to the WHO report, most of Afghanistan’s cases were recorded in eastern and southern provinces along the border with Pakistan, where frequent cross-border movement complicates disease control. Only one case was reported in the western province of Herat.
WHO data showed Afghanistan recorded one case in January, two in February, two in April, three in May, and seven in June. The most recent case was reported on June 25.
The agency also reported 161 positive environmental samples so far this year, including 53 in Afghanistan and 108 in Pakistan.
Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries in the world where wild poliovirus has not been eradicated. Health agencies and officials say that population mobility, insecurity in some areas, gaps in immunization coverage, and vaccine misinformation continue to hamper eradication efforts.
The two countries recorded a combined 52 polio cases in 2025, including 21 in Afghanistan and 31 in Pakistan. Most cases were concentrated in border regions where health authorities have struggled to vaccinate all eligible children.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban has long hindered polio eradication efforts and attacked health workers, especially in the southern regions. The group now faces significant challenges in combating the disease.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that mainly affects children under the age of five. The virus spreads through contaminated food, water, or close contact and can cause irreversible paralysis and, in severe cases, death.
The WHO says maintaining high vaccination coverage, conducting uninterrupted immunization campaigns, and ensuring access to every child are essential steps toward ending transmission and achieving eradication in the two remaining endemic countries.
