The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa confirmed the end of poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Congo and Uganda following Independent Outbreak Response Assessment (OBRA) conducted between January and June 2026.
The assessments examined disease surveillance, laboratory and epidemiological evidence, population immunity and vaccination campaign performance.
Based on the findings, the WHO Regional Office for Africa confirmed the closure of poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in all five countries.
The progress reflects years of efforts to strengthen routine vaccination, close immunity gaps, improve disease detection and reach children in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
Despite differences among the five countries, their experiences showed that rapid detection, sustained surveillance, community engagement and high-quality vaccination campaigns are central to stopping transmission.
In the Republic of the Congo, authorities strengthened surveillance and conducted multiple vaccination campaigns following virus detections. The country's last detection was reported in December 2023, after which efforts focused on maintaining sensitive surveillance and addressing immunity gaps in high-risk areas.
Burundi, which declared a circulating poliovirus type 2 outbreak in March 2023, strengthened routine immunisation, epidemiological investigations and environmental surveillance. Targeted vaccination campaigns helped reach vulnerable populations and interrupt transmission.
In Uganda, health authorities intensified disease surveillance and outbreak response activities following the detection of poliovirus in May 2024, while maintaining strong coordination across national and subnational levels.
Ghana combined stronger laboratory capacity with disease surveillance and rapid outbreak response.
Both Ghana and Uganda upgraded their laboratory capabilities earlier this year, improving their ability to identify poliovirus quickly and respond to other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Guinea-Bissau focused on reaching underserved communities through targeted immunization campaigns and stronger surveillance. No poliovirus has been detected in the country since July 2021.
Despite the latest progress, health authorities warned that the closure of an outbreak does not mean the threat of poliovirus has disappeared. The risk of renewed transmission remains, particularly in countries bordering areas where the virus continues to circulate.
The recent detection of poliovirus in Madagascar following the closure of a previous outbreak illustrates the continuing vulnerability of countries that have interrupted transmission.
WHO and its partners are therefore urging governments to maintain strong surveillance systems, high vaccination coverage and the capacity to respond rapidly to any new detection.
UNICEF and Gavi stressed that investments made during polio responses including community engagement, mapping, surveillance and reaching missed children will strengthen broader health systems.
In 2025, the African Region accelerated efforts to modernise its polio laboratory network, improving diagnostic capacity and reducing the time required to identify poliovirus.
Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said: “While this is an important milestone, it is not the end of the journey. Continued vigilance, strong surveillance and high immunization coverage remain essential to protect children and prevent future outbreaks.”
Polio is highly infectious disease and can cause irreversible paralysis, but it is preventable through vaccination.
The closure of these five outbreaks means more children are protected from a potentially lifelong disability.