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#Statement of the 44th #Meeting of the #Polio #IHR #Emergency Committee (#WHO, summary)

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By G.M.

 


{4 March 2026, excerpts}

The 44th meeting of the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR or Regulations) on the international spread of poliovirus was convened by the WHO Director-General on 14 January 2026 with eight out of nine Committee members and the adviser meeting via video conference with affected countries, supported by the WHO Secretariat. 

The Emergency Committee reviewed the latest epidemiological data on wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) and circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV) in the context of the global targets to interrupt endemic WPV1 transmission in 2026 and to stop cVDPV2 outbreaks by 2028 with subsequent certification of WPV1 eradication and cVDPV2 elimination. 

Technical updates were received about the situation in the following countries: 

- Afghanistan, 

- Angola, 

- Germany, 

- Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 

- Namibia, 

- Pakistan and 

- Papua New Guinea.

Amendments to the IHR, adopted by the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly, through resolution WHA77.17 in June 2024, entered into force, generally, on 19 September 2025.

Key amendments to the IHR include, inter alia, broader poliovirus notification requirements; the introduction of the determination of “pandemic emergency” , a higher level of global public health alert with respect to a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC); measures to strengthen equitable access to relevant health products; and recognition of health documents in non-digital and digital formats.

(...)


Conclusion

The Committee unanimously concluded that the risk of international spread of polioviruses continues to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and recommended extending the Temporary Recommendations for a further three months.

The Committee, after a thorough review of the epidemiological and programmatic situation, unanimously concluded that the event does not constitute a pandemic emergency.

(...)

Source: 


Link: https://www.who.int/news/item/04-03-2026-statement-of-the-forty-fourth-meeting-of-the-polio-ihr-emergency-committee

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