search
polio
Trends
- 1
Health reporting is highlighting how poliovirus continues to circulate in South Sudan despite global eradication efforts. The persistence of the virus is attributed to gaps in vaccination coverage, access challenges, and ongoing instability that complicate immunisation campaigns. Public health officials are watching the situation closely, as continued transmission anywhere poses a risk to wider eradication goals.
- 2
The Chief Minister of Sindh, Pakistan, marked World Polio Day by pledging that his government will make no compromise in the fight against polio. The statement comes as Pakistan remains one of the last countries where the virus is still endemic, and officials continue vaccination drives amid recurring resistance and outbreaks.
- 3How a polio outbreak transformed UK wastewater testing▼How a polio outbreak transformed wastewater testing in the United Kingdom
The World Health Organization is highlighting how a polio outbreak in the United Kingdom led to a major expansion of wastewater surveillance. Traces of vaccine-derived poliovirus found in London sewage in 2022 prompted intensified testing across the country, turning wastewater monitoring into a key public health tool for detecting viruses before they cause symptomatic cases.
- 4Sudan launches polio vaccination drive for 11 million children▼Sudan launches polio vaccination campaign targeting 11 million children
Sudan has launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign aiming to immunise 11 million children. The effort comes as the country's health system has been severely strained by the ongoing conflict, raising fears of disease outbreaks among displaced and underserved populations. Health authorities and humanitarian partners are working to reach children across the country, including in hard-to-access areas.
- 5South Sudan Reports No Wild Polio Cases Since 2009▼South Sudan reports ‘no wild’ polio cases since 2009, health officials say
Health officials in South Sudan say the country has recorded no cases of wild polio since 2009, marking more than a decade without the disease circulating naturally. The announcement highlights progress in the country's vaccination campaigns, though health authorities stress continued immunisation efforts are needed to keep the virus out and protect children.
- 6Ukraine receives over 230,000 doses of polio vaccine●Ukraine receives over 230,000 doses of inactivated polio vaccine Ukraine has received 232,500 doses of inactivated polio
Ukraine has taken delivery of 232,500 doses of inactivated polio vaccine, which will be used to vaccinate children free of charge under the country's National Immunization Schedule. The shipment supports ongoing efforts to maintain routine childhood immunization, an area under strain since the start of the full-scale war.
- 7
UNICEF is highlighting the work of Linda, a health worker going door to door in South Sudan to vaccinate children against polio. Her efforts are part of ongoing immunisation campaigns in a country where access to healthcare remains limited and outbreaks of the disease continue to pose a risk to young children.
- 8The Remarkable Story of Delta Blues Legend CeDell Davis▼Blues with a Butter Knife: The Remarkable Story of Delta Blues Legend CeDell Davis
A new profile of CeDell Davis, the Arkansas Delta bluesman known for his unconventional guitar style played with a butter knife as a slide, is drawing attention. Polio left Davis with limited hand function, shaping his raw, scraping sound that influenced generations of blues musicians before his death in 2017. The story revisits his life, struggles and enduring musical legacy.
- 9Ghana marks World Polio Day after closing Type 2 outbreak●Ghana marks World Polio Day after successful closure of Type 2 outbreak
Ghana observed World Polio Day following the successful closure of its circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus Type 2 outbreak. Health authorities are presenting the milestone as proof that sustained vaccination campaigns and surveillance can halt polio transmission. The occasion has drawn attention to Ghana's immunisation efforts and to the continued need for vaccination to keep the country polio-free.
- 10Somalia restructures polio programme to end outbreak▼Somalia restructures polio programme to end polio outbreak and protect communities
Somalia is restructuring its polio eradication programme in an effort to end the ongoing polio outbreak and better protect communities, according to the World Health Organization. The reorganisation is aimed at strengthening vaccination campaigns and surveillance so health workers can reach children in hard-to-access areas and stop transmission of the virus.