WHO confirms second Polio case in Afghanistan

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the second case of polio in Afghanistan for the year 2025.

The case was identified in March in Helmand province.

This follows the first reported case in the Bala Murghab district of Badghis province, where a five-year-old girl was diagnosed with the virus.

Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries where polio has not been eradicated.

Polio is a viral disease for which there is no cure, and vaccination is the only way to protect children from it.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Public Health Ministry has not yet commented.