At the 44th meeting on 14 January 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 targets to interrupt endemic WPV1 transmission in 2026 and to stop cVDPV2 outbreaks by 2028 with subsequent certification of WPV1 eradication and cVDPV2 elimination. Technical updates were received about the situation in the following countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Germany, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Namibia, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea.
Wild poliovirus (WPV):
- Since 1 October 2025, 9 new WPV1 cases have been reported from the two endemic countries, Afghanistan (5) and Pakistan (4).
- Cumulatively in 2025:
- 40 WPV1 cases in Afghanistan (9), Pakistan (31).
- WPV1 positive environmental samples sites: Afghanistan (64), Pakistan (608), Germany (1).
- Germany: On 10 November 2025, the GPEI confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in an environmental sample collected through routine surveillance in Hamburg, Germany, on 7 October 2025. Genetic sequencing indicates that this WPV1 detection is linked to WPV1 previously identified in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in August 2025, suggesting a recent importation into Germany. An environmental sample collected from the same site on 13 October 2025 also showed the presence of WPV1. No further WPV1 detections have been reported in subsequent environmental samples collected after 13 October 2025.
- 40 WPV1 cases in Afghanistan (9), Pakistan (31).
Circulating vaccine derived poliovirus (cVDPV):
- In 2025, a total of 192 cVDPV2 cases, 7 cVDPV3 cases, 3 cVDPV1 cases were reported.
- Since the last Emergency Committee meeting in October 2025:
- New cVDPV1 outbreaks in Laos. In Algeria, Djibouti, DRC, and Israel, outbreaks are ongoing.
- New cVDPV2 outbreaks are in Namibia, with ongoing outbreaks in 25 additional countries (see below).
- cVDPV3 outbreaks in Cameroon, Chad, and Guinea are ongoing.
- New cVDPV1 outbreaks in Laos. In Algeria, Djibouti, DRC, and Israel, outbreaks are ongoing.
The Committee unanimously concluded that the risk of international spread of poliovirus continues to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and recommended extending the Temporary Recommendations for a further three months.
The Committee, after a thorough review of the epidemiological and programmatic situation, unanimously concluded that the event does not constitute a pandemic emergency.
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 (last detection >13 months).