An analysis of why global polio eradication is stalling and which political, funding, and social obstacles could allow the virus to return.
Key Takeaways
- By 2023 wild-type polio had largely vanished, but Afghanistan and Pakistan still report endemic transmission
- US withdrawal from the WHO and USAID restructuring cut funding and reduced multilateral support for eradication efforts
- Vaccine-derived polio outbreaks persist in under-immunized areas, driven by low coverage and competing local priorities