Local media (ANI) reported that the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health recently launched a polio vaccination campaign targeting 7.3 million children across 19 provinces of Afghanistan.
Healthcare providers have emphasized the crucial role of public awareness and ongoing investment in eradicating polio. Dr. Mojtaba Sufi, a health expert in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, reiterated in a news article, “The only effective way to prevent polio is through vaccination, and the international community provides these vaccines.
This new vaccination campaign is essential as Afghanistan is affected by ongoing endemic wild poliovirus transmission.
The total number of WPV1 cases in 2025 is two, which compares to 2024 when 25 cases were confirmed.
As of July 23, 2025, the U.S. CDC and the WHO’s International Travel and Health recommend that all travellers to polio-affected areas be fully vaccinated against polio. Residents (and visitors for more than 4 weeks) from infected areas, such as Afghanistan, should receive an additional dose of oral or inactivated polio vaccine within 4 weeks to 12 months of travel.
Additionally, a booster dose may be recommended for specific travelers.