In the face of increasing wild poliovirus transmission in the last two remaining endemic countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, global health experts gathered in Islamabad last week to evaluate measures to urgently reverse the epidemiological trend.
The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meeting on polio eradication came at a critical time for Pakistan, as the country faces a resurgence of wild poliovirus (WPV1) cases and a narrowing window to interrupt transmission by the end of 2025. With 73 WPV cases reported in 2024 compared to just six in 2023, and a significant increase in environmental detections across historic poliovirus reservoirs like Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta, and beyond, the pressure to demonstrate results has never been greater. The meeting underscored the urgent need for extraordinary efforts and emergency operational measures to get the programme back on track and restore national and international confidence in the success of the longstanding effort.
The Technical Advisory Group was convened by the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy on behalf of Member States and the GEPI partners. In her opening remarks, she emphasized the importance of reaching children being missed, particularly in insecure, underserved, high-risk areas and among migrant and mobile populations.