World Polio Day 2026 is being observed on October 24, 2026, under the theme “One day, one focus: ending polio for good”
- The Americas Milestone: Marked 35 years free of wild poliovirus since the last case was reported in the region in 1991 (certified polio-free in 1994).
- Global Progress: Global polio cases have fallen by 99.9% since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) launched in 1988, though wild poliovirus remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- Regional Campaigns:
- Angola launched a large-scale integrated vaccination campaign targeting over 10 million children.
- Polio outbreaks were officially declared closed in Burundi, the Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, and Uganda in August 2026.
- Community Action: Rotary International, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and local clubs worldwide organized awareness events, community drives, and advocacy campaigns to emphasize routine immunizations and reach remote populations.