The WHO South-East Asia Region, home to a quarter of the world's population, has achieved a remarkable milestone: 15 years since its last case of wild poliovirus. This accomplishment is a testament to the power of unwavering government leadership, a dedicated health workforce, and strong partnerships, including with communities. But the story doesn't end there. The polio legacy continues to drive broader public health gains, and the region is leveraging these innovations and lessons to accelerate progress in other areas.
In 2011, an 18-month-old girl in Howrah, West Bengal, India, was paralyzed by wild poliovirus, but an extensive and intensive response ensured this remained the last case in the region. Three years later, on March 27, 2014, the WHO South-East Asia Region was officially certified as polio-free. The region remains vigilant, actively monitoring for poliovirus importation and protecting children through vaccination against a disease that once caused widespread paralysis and death.
Surveillance efforts are robust, with over 50,000 stool samples collected across the region in 2025 through a network of 13 WHO-accredited polio laboratories. Environmental surveillance is also conducted at 93 sites among high-risk populations in five countries, adding an extra layer of sensitivity to detect any potential poliovirus transmission. These efforts ensure that the region's polio-free status is maintained and certified.
The region's commitment to high immunization coverage is evident. According to the WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC), the region has consistently maintained strong immunization coverage. Coverage with the bivalent oral polio vaccine and at least one dose of the inactivated polio vaccine has remained above 90% for many years, even during humanitarian emergencies, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This resilience safeguards the hard-won gains in public health.
The South-East Asia Regional Certification Commission for Poliomyelitis Eradication (SEA-RCCPE) plays a crucial role in providing independent oversight. It meets annually to review country progress, assess risks, and verify the region's continued polio-free status. This commission ensures that the region's commitment to polio eradication is sustained and that any potential risks are addressed promptly.
The polio program's impact extends far beyond the eradication of a single disease. Member countries have applied innovations, systems, and operational lessons from polio eradication to strengthen routine immunization, advance measles and rubella elimination, enhance public health laboratory capacities, and improve emergency preparedness. These efforts have been instrumental in expanding routine immunization coverage, reaching previously unreached communities, and closing immunity gaps.
The region has also made significant progress against other vaccine-preventable diseases. Maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination is sustained, while the introduction and scale-up of vaccines against pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid, and human papillomavirus continue to reduce mortality and long-term disease burden. However, the Officer-in-Charge emphasizes that the risk of importation remains as long as polio exists anywhere in the world.
Dr. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, highlights the importance of sustaining high immunization coverage, sensitive surveillance, and rapid response capacities for polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases. The journey from polio endemicity to sustained polio-free status demonstrates that ambitious public health goals are achievable. The WHO remains committed to supporting countries in protecting every child through strong routine immunization systems and advancing disease elimination across the region.
