The World Health Organisation has confirmed the closure of poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in five African countries following assessments that found transmission had been interrupted.
The countries involved are Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Congo, and Uganda, as stated by the WHO Regional Office for Africa on Wednesday.
Independent Outbreak Response Assessment teams conducted separate reviews between January and June 2026, examining disease surveillance, laboratory data, and epidemiological information, as noted by WHO.
In Burundi, where a circulating poliovirus type 2 outbreak was declared in March 2023, health authorities intensified routine vaccination and surveillance efforts, supported by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
Uganda also strengthened surveillance and outbreak response after poliovirus was detected in May 2024, while Ghana combined laboratory investments with disease surveillance and rapid outbreak response. Earlier this year, both countries upgraded their laboratory capacity, further strengthening their ability to detect and respond rapidly to poliovirus and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
In Guinea-Bissau, targeted vaccination campaigns and enhanced surveillance focused on underserved populations have resulted in no poliovirus detections since July 2021.
The Republic of Congo strengthened surveillance and conducted multiple vaccination campaigns after virus detections, with the last detection reported in December 2023.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, stated that the closures demonstrate what can be achieved through national leadership, the work of health workers, and collaboration among governments, communities, and partners.
“While this is an important milestone, it is not the end of the journey; continued vigilance, strong surveillance and high immunisation coverage remain essential to protect children and prevent future outbreaks,” Mr. Janabi said.
Nigeria has maintained zero transmission of wild poliovirus for six years, according to the WHO. The country has continued responding to circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), which remains a concern despite the absence of wild poliovirus transmission.
WHO recently highlighted the work of the National Polio Laboratory in Ibadan, which supports surveillance and rapid detection of poliovirus in the country. The laboratory analyses more than 23,000 stool samples from 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory each year and processes sewage samples from 60 wastewater surveillance sites. Since receiving WHO accreditation in February 2025, the lab has also sequenced more than 1,000 poliovirus isolates.
“The laboratory is preparing for full accreditation by September 2026,” WHO noted.
With the Government of Nigeria and partners, WHO supports nationwide surveillance, vaccination campaigns and real-time data monitoring. These efforts help ensure every child is reached and every signal is investigated.
Despite the latest achievement, closing an outbreak does not eliminate the risk of future detections or reimportation. WHO pointed to the recent detection of poliovirus in Madagascar, after the country had previously declared its outbreak closed, as a reminder of the continuing risk. WHO said countries must therefore maintain high-quality surveillance and strong population immunity.
