WHO Confirms End of Poliovirus Type 2 Outbreaks in Five African Nations
Why in the news
The WHO Regional Office for Africa confirmed on August 19, 2026 that five countries had closed their outbreaks of circulating poliovirus type 2: Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Key facts
- Independent Outbreak Response Assessment: teams reviewed surveillance, laboratory and epidemiological data, population immunity and vaccination campaign results between January and June 2026.
- WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, said continued vigilance, strong surveillance and high immunisation coverage remain essential.
- Closure does not remove the danger of the virus returning from areas where it still circulates.
- Ghana and Uganda upgraded laboratory capabilities in 2026.
Country snapshot
| Country | Background |
|---|---|
| Burundi | Outbreak declared in March 2023 |
| Republic of Congo | Last detection in December 2023 |
| Guinea-Bissau | No detection since July 2021 |
| Uganda | Poliovirus detected in May 2024 |
| Ghana | Outbreak closed after the assessment |
About the issue
An outbreak is closed only after independent reviewers judge that surveillance, laboratory evidence and immunity levels show the virus is no longer spreading.
Exam angle
- Know the five countries and the WHO Regional Office for Africa as the announcing body.
- The assessment window, January to June 2026, is a likely detail.
- Madagascar is the example WHO gave of renewed detection after closure.