Health & Environment
WHO Declares End of Polio Outbreaks in Five African Nations
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THE BRIEF
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The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa has confirmed the closure of poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Congo, and Uganda.
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The decision follows Independent Outbreak Response Assessments conducted between January and June 2026, which evaluated disease surveillance, population immunity, and vaccination campaigns.
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Despite the milestone, WHO Regional Director Dr. Mohamed Janabi warned that countries must maintain strong surveillance, noting a recent recurrence of poliovirus in Madagascar.