Libya recognised by WHO for remaining polio-free

Tripoli (ANTARA) — Libya has received formal recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO) for its continued efforts to maintain its polio-free status, the Libyan National Centre for Disease Control said on Tuesday (3 November).

The recognition was conveyed in an official letter dated Saturday (31 October) from the WHO’s Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to Libya’s National Certification Committee.

The centre said the recognition reflected Libya’s commitment to epidemiological surveillance standards and the effective implementation of its national immunisation programme, as well as its ongoing efforts to protect public health.

Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects young children and can cause permanent paralysis. Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent the disease and halt its transmission.