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A weekly development news platform published by UrgeDevWire, produced by Urge Communications. Covering wider East African region.

Dev-News Desk| East Africa. Urge- DevWire

Uganda Declares End of Circulating Variant Polio Outbreak Following Two Year Public Health Response

KAMPALA, Uganda, 23 June 2026

Uganda has officially closed its outbreak of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 after completing more than two years of intensive surveillance, vaccination campaigns and coordinated public health interventions, the World Health Organization announced this week.

According to WHO, the outbreak was first detected through environmental surveillance in 2023, triggering an extensive emergency response led by Uganda's Ministry of Health with technical and operational support from WHO, UNICEF, partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and local health authorities.

Health officials implemented multiple rounds of supplementary immunisation activities targeting millions of children while expanding disease surveillance across districts to rapidly detect any new transmission.

The outbreak was officially declared closed in May 2026 after Uganda completed the required period without detecting further transmission, meeting internationally recognised criteria for outbreak closure.

WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu congratulated Uganda and its partners on the achievement.

"Uganda's success demonstrates what can be achieved through strong leadership, committed health workers, community engagement and sustained investment in surveillance and immunisation."

WHO noted that environmental surveillance played a critical role in identifying the virus before cases of paralysis were reported, allowing authorities to mount an early response that limited wider transmission.

Although the outbreak has ended, WHO cautioned that continued routine immunisation remains essential because poliovirus can still spread across borders where immunity gaps exist.

Uganda continues to strengthen routine childhood immunisation, surveillance and laboratory capacity as part of broader efforts to maintain its polio free status and protect gains made through the eradication programme.

The response involved close collaboration between Uganda's Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, Gavi and other partners supporting the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Source: World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, 23 June 2026.

Dev-News Desk| East Africa. Urge- DevWire