The Taliban have suspended polio vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan, a significant blow to global efforts to eradicate the virus, which remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The decision was announced just before a planned immunization campaign, and no explanation was provided by Taliban officials.

This year, the World Health Organization has confirmed 18 polio cases in Afghanistan, primarily concentrated in the south, up from six in 2022.

The Taliban’s shift from house-to-house vaccinations to site-to-site methods, such as in mosques, is anticipated to be less effective, especially in regions like Kandahar where many children remain unvaccinated.

The polio outbreak poses a risk of spread to neighboring Pakistan, which already faces challenges due to violence against vaccination teams and misinformation, the Associated Press reported.

The disruption in vaccination efforts is part of broader issues in the global fight against polio, which continues to face setbacks despite substantial investment and initiative.

Written by B.C. Begley