At the 42nd meeting on 18 June 2025, the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR) reviewed the data on wild poliovirus (WPV1) and circulating vaccine derived polioviruses (cVDPV) in the context of the global target of interruption and certification of WPV1 eradication by 2027 and interruption and certification of cVDPV2 elimination by 2029. Technical updates were received about the situation in the following countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Papua New Guinea.
Since the last meeting of the Emergency Committee, new detections were reported as follows:
Wild poliovirus:
- Since the beginning of 2025, 13 WPV1 cases have been reported.
- WPV1 positive environmental samples were reported in 2025 in Afghanistan (30) and Pakistan (245).
- Both countries see a persisting upward trend.
Circulating vaccine derived poliovirus (cVDPV) in 2025:
- In 2025, 65 cVDPV2 cases and 2 cVDPV3 cases (all in Guinea), no cVDPV1 cases.
The Committee unanimously agreed that the risk of international spread of poliovirus still remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and recommended the extension of Temporary Recommendations for a further three months.
Risk categories and advice aimed at reducing the risk of international spread of WPV1 and cVDPVs:
- States infected with WPV1, cVDPV1 or cVDPV3.
- States infected with cVDPV2, with or without evidence of local transmission.
- States previously infected by WPV1 or cVDPV within the last 24 months.