PAHO emphasizes 31 years without polio in the Americas and calls for increased vaccination efforts – PAHO/WHO

Even though the Americas was certified polio-free in 1994, only 83% of children would receive the third dose of polio vaccine in 2024, far below the 95% needed to prevent an outbreak.

Washington DC, October 23, 2025 (PAHO) — On World Polio Day (October 24), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) celebrates more than 30 years without wild poliovirus infections in the Americas. PAHO continues to emphasize the importance of strengthening vaccination coverage to prevent a possible resurgence of this preventable disease.

“Decades ago, parents lived in fear for their children's health, who could suffer from sudden onset of fever, pain, muscle weakness, and sometimes permanent paralysis. That was polio, an incurable disease that could lead to lifelong disability and even death,” recalls Dr. Gervase Barbosa, director of PAHO. “Thanks to vaccines and tremendous cooperation, it has been 31 years since the last outbreak of wild poliovirus in our region. This is an extraordinary public health achievement.”

Polio affected thousands of children throughout the Americas until the early 1990s. Approximately 6,000 cases were reported in 1975, and the last case of wild poliovirus was detected in Peru in 1991. This milestone led to the Americas becoming the first polio-free area in the world in 1994.

However, PAHO emphasizes that maintaining this status requires renewed efforts and sustained action. In 2024, only 83% of children in the Americas received their third polio vaccine, far below the 95% vaccination rate recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure herd immunity.

Polio is a viral disease that attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis, primarily in children under the age of five. Most cases are asymptomatic, but 1 in 200 infections causes paralysis, and 5% to 10% of infected people may die from respiratory paralysis.

Globally, polio cases have declined by more than 99% since 1988, when there were an estimated 350,000 cases of polio per year in more than 125 countries. Currently, only two countries continue to have endemic outbreaks of wild poliovirus.

Risk remains in areas with low vaccination coverage, where vaccine-derived polioviruses could mutate and spread to unvaccinated areas, causing outbreaks similar to those caused by wild viruses. Strong epidemiological surveillance and strategic use of different vaccine formulations will reduce this risk while maintaining focus on global elimination goals.

“Defending, reinforcing and following the recommendations of vaccination programs is an act of love, solidarity and shared responsibility between governments, health workers, communities and each of us,” Dr. Barbosa stressed.

call to action

PAHO calls on all sectors and stakeholders to take decisive action to protect the Americas from polio.

• Parents, caregivers, guardians: Check your child's immunization record and seek medical attention if you have any questions.
• Healthcare workers and community leaders: We provide clear information, counter misinformation, and remain a trusted source of information in our community.
• Government and decision makers: Ensure sufficient resources to strengthen national immunization programs and maintain active surveillance.

On World Polio Day, PAHO reaffirms its commitment to eradicate this disease globally and protect future generations from preventable health threats.

Even before wild poliovirus was eradicated in the Americas, PAHO has been working with countries and strategic partners across the region to provide continued technical cooperation, support vaccination campaigns, and strengthen surveillance to achieve and sustain this historic milestone. PAHO is also contributing to ensuring access to safe and effective vaccines through affordable collective purchasing through a revolving fund.