Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
October 24, 2025 Healthcare
Over the past decades, the number of polio cases has been reduced by more than 99 percent. The World Health Organization (WHO) reminds us of this on World Polio Day, celebrated on October 24.
This impressive progress was achieved thanks to the establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988. The WHO European Region achieved polio-free status in 2002 and has maintained it since.
The risk of spread remains
However, with vaccination rates declining and variants of the virus being identified, experts warn that the risk of this dangerous disease spreading remains.
In 2024, more than 450,000 infants in the WHO European Region were not vaccinated against poliovirus. Since September 2024, the poliovirus variant type 2 has been detected during routine wastewater testing in six countries in the region: Finland, Germany, Israel, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The virus was last detected in Germany in September 2025. Thanks to high vaccination rates, there have been no cases of paralytic polio or community transmission.
Since February 2025, another variant of the virus, type 1, has been circulating in Israel. The WHO has recognized this as an outbreak, but no poliovirus has been detected in the country in the past two months.
"These isolated cases and the outbreak in Israel remind us of the importance of timely vaccination of all children in all areas," said Igor Pereginets, Director of Health Security and Regional Emergencies at the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
"Vaccination gaps leave children vulnerable and pose a threat to public health throughout the region and beyond. We must not return to the past, when polio constantly threatened lives and overwhelmed healthcare systems. WHO/Europe supports all countries and partner organizations in our shared goal of eliminating all forms of poliovirus worldwide as quickly as possible," he emphasized.
Complete liquidation is necessary
Polio is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily across large geographical areas. Until the late 1980s, polio paralyzed 350,000 children annually. In 2025, fewer than 50 cases of paralysis were recorded.
Until complete global elimination of the virus is achieved, all countries and every unvaccinated person will remain at risk, the WHO emphasizes.
The WHO Regional Office for Europe and its partners continue to support public health authorities in monitoring the situation, strengthening immunization programmes and responding rapidly to cases of the virus to prevent its spread.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.