Swift action and improved surveillance ended the spread of wild poliovirus type 1 in Malawi and Mozambique. An expert team that performed thorough assessments recommends officially declaring the outbreak to be over — a huge victory in the effort against polio in Africa.
The last case of wild poliovirus type 1 in the World Health Organization’s African Region, linked to a strain circulating in Pakistan, was reported in Mozambique’s Tete Province in August 2022. Nine cases overall were detected in Mozambique and neighboring Malawi, where the outbreak was declared in February 2022.
In response to the outbreak, more than 50 million children received vaccinations to shield them from the virus. This successful coordinated effort underscores the power of collaboration and the need for a timely response in safeguarding communities against infectious diseases.