Follow the latest news on Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio, every week. Here is a link to the latest cases - updated every week. See the country-specific section and more details, right here at https://polioeradication.org/about-polio/polio-this-week/. For the headlines. please Read more.....
Polio this week
WHO appoints Chris Wolff as Director of Polio Eradication
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed Mr Chris Wolff as Director of Polio Eradication at WHO, bringing one of the programme’s most experienced operational and strategic leaders back to the Organization at a pivotal moment for global eradication efforts. The WHO polio eradication director also serves as the Chair of the Strategy Committee for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. With more than two decades of experience across polio eradication, immunization and global health, Chris has helped shape some of the programme’s most significant achievements – from supporting India’s successful interruption of wild poliovirus transmission and leading WHO’s global polio outbreak response and surveillance teams, to most recently advancing routine immunization, innovation and health systems strengthening at the Gates Foundation. Starting his new position, Chris emphasized that the programme’s greatest strength remains its partnership. “One of the greatest privileges of this role is the opportunity to work alongside governments, WHO colleagues, UNICEF, CDC, the Gates Foundation, Gavi, donors and our extraordinary friends at Rotary International, whose commitment has inspired this effort for decades. Above all, I look forward to supporting the frontline health workers and national programme teams. They are the true heroes of polio eradication.”
Helen Rees, long-time polio fighter and IHR EC chair, honoured with lifetime achievement award
Professor Helen Rees, Chair of the IHR Emergency Committee on polio eradication, was awarded the prestigious South Africa National Research Foundation (NRF) 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, the NRF’s highest honour, for her outstanding contributions to public health, not least of course to polio eradication. More.
What polio investments can achieve beyond eradication – example Iraq
During the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, and as the first country in the region to complete polio transition, Iraq is showing how investments made for polio eradication can deliver lasting public health benefits, strengthening health system resilience, surveillance, laboratories and immunization systems. More.
Summary of new polioviruses this week
- Afghanistan : three WPV1 cases and 14 WPV1-positive environmental samples
- Central African Republic (CAR): one cVDPV2 case
- Chad : one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
- DR Congo : three cVDPV2 cases
- Libya : one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
- Nigeria : one cVDPV3 case
- Somalia : one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample