# Polio outbreak and vaccination efforts in Afghanistan

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/polio-outbreak-and-vaccination-efforts-in-afghanistan
> Updated: 2026-08-24T05:28:29.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

In August 2026, the Afghan government initiated a polio vaccination campaign across five provinces, including Nangarhar, Kunar, Kabul, Herat, and Farah. This response followed a new case in Uruzgan province and a total of 15 confirmed cases in the country since the beginning of the year. Health authorities noted that transmission is linked to cross-border movement with Pakistan.

By late August, the World Health Organization reported four additional cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Herat, Paktika, and Kandahar, raising Afghanistan’s 2026 total to 19 cases. Afghanistan currently accounts for 19 of the 22 confirmed WPV1 cases in the Eastern Mediterranean region, while environmental surveillance shows continued virus circulation in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-24: Afghanistan reports four new wild poliovirus cases

Afghanistan has reported four new wild poliovirus type 1 cases, bringing its 2026 total to 19 cases as the virus continues to circulate in the region.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/afghanistan-reports-four-new-wild-poliovirus-cases

### 2026-08-16: Afghanistan launches polio vaccination campaign in five provinces

Afghanistan has launched a polio vaccination campaign across five provinces, including Kabul and Nangarhar, following reports of new cases and concerns over virus transmission.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/afghanistan-launches-polio-vaccination-campaign-in-five-provinces

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Cite as: Polio outbreak and vaccination efforts in Afghanistan. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/polio-outbreak-and-vaccination-efforts-in-afghanistan