Afghanistan records six new polio cases

Kabul (ANTARA) – Afghanistan has confirmed six additional cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), bringing the country’s total to 42 since the start of this year, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

The figure represents a significant increase on the 21 cases recorded throughout 2025, as documented by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Afghan health authorities have linked the recent surge in cases to the large-scale return of Afghan refugees from neighbouring Pakistan, where wild poliovirus continues to spread endemically.

Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only two countries in the world experiencing endemic transmission of wild poliovirus, highlighting the continuing challenges to global polio eradication efforts in the region.