Polio Vaccination Rates Plummet in Europe: What You Need to Know in 2025 (2026)

Polio Vaccinations in Europe: A Cause for Concern

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning about the declining polio vaccination rates in Europe, which have reached their lowest point in years. This alarming trend leaves over 450,000 infants vulnerable to a disease that could have been eradicated. The situation is particularly critical as new polio cases have been confirmed in Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea, highlighting the interconnectedness of global health.

In Afghanistan, two patients were infected with wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), causing paralysis in early October, bringing the country's total WPV1 cases to nine for the year. Simultaneously, Papua New Guinea (PNG) reported two cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in Central and Enga provinces, with paralysis onset in August. This is PNG's third cVDPV2 case so far this year.

The situation is further complicated by the detection of poliovirus type 2 through routine wastewater surveillance in six countries in the region (Finland, Germany, Israel, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom) since September 2024. This indicates the potential for widespread transmission and the need for urgent action.

The WHO, in collaboration with other Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners, is actively supporting national and local public health authorities in their investigations, monitoring, and strengthening of immunization programs. They are also working to rapidly respond to virus detections to prevent further spread.

To protect travelers, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Travel Health Notice, listing 39 countries where the risk of polio is high. The CDC strongly advises travelers to be fully vaccinated before visiting these areas, emphasizing the importance of global vaccination efforts.

This critical situation underscores the need for increased awareness and action to ensure that Europe remains polio-free and that vulnerable populations worldwide are protected from this devastating disease.