Polio Outbreak Threatens Afghanistan as Vaccination Campaign Suspended

Afghanistan faces a heightened risk of polio outbreaks after the Taliban suspended its vaccination campaign due to security concerns and restrictions on women’s participation, The Guardian reported yesterday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 18 new polio cases this year, up from six in 2023, with local health officials fearing true numbers may be higher.

The Taliban has shifted vaccination efforts from door-to-door campaigns to local mosques, undermining the goal of immunizing over 95% of children. Women, crucial for outreach in conservative areas, face increasing restrictions, particularly in the south.

Of the reported cases, 11 are from Kandahar, where female health workers have been instrumental in vaccination efforts. The ongoing limitations threaten to reverse progress in eradicating polio, with Afghanistan and Pakistan as the last two endemic countries.