WHO official calls for continued vigilance to keep Nepal polio-free
Summary
A WHO official has urged Nepal to maintain strong polio surveillance and immunisation to protect its polio-free status, warning that the virus could still enter through cross-border movement. She also called for better routine vaccination coverage, acute flaccid paralysis monitoring and stronger outbreak response capacity.
Key Points
- A senior WHO official said Nepal must keep up polio surveillance and immunisation to safeguard its polio-free status.
- The official warned that the virus remains active elsewhere in the world and could enter Nepal through cross-border movement.
- She urged routine immunisation for every child, especially in remote and high-risk communities, and called for stronger acute flaccid paralysis surveillance.
- She said Nepal should preserve its lab, surveillance and outbreak response systems even as global polio funding changes.
