OPS destaca 31 años sin polio en las Américas y llama a reforzar la vacunación – OPS/OMS

The region was certified polio-free in 1994; However, in 2024 only 83% of children received the third dose of the vaccine, below the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks.

Washington, DC, October 23, 2025 (PAHO) — In the World Polio Day (October 24), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) celebrates more than three decades without cases of wild poliovirus in the Americas, and warns about the importance of strengthening vaccination to avoid a possible resurgence of this preventable disease.

«A few decades ago, fathers and mothers lived in fear for the health of their children: sudden fever, pain, muscle weakness and even permanent paralysis. This is how poliomyelitis presented itself, a disease without a cure that could leave lifelong consequences and even cause death,» recalled Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO. «Thanks to vaccines and a great collective effort, wild poliovirus has not circulated in our region for 31 years. This is an extraordinary achievement in public health,» he added.

Polio affected thousands of children in the region until the early 1990s. In 1975, nearly 6,000 cases were reported, and the last case of wild poliovirus was recorded in Peru in 1991. This progress led to the Americas becoming the first region in the world in 1994. to be certified polio-free.

However, PAHO highlights that maintaining this status requires renewing commitment and sustaining action. In 2024, only 83% of children in the Americas received the third dose of the polio vaccine, well below the 95% recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to achieve herd immunity.

Poliomyelitis is a viral disease that attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis, mainly in children under 5 years of age. In most cases there are no symptoms, but one in every 200 infected people develops paralysis, and between 5% and 10% of them can die from respiratory paralysis.

Globally, polio cases have decreased by more than 99% since 1988, when there were an estimated 350,000 cases annually in more than 125 countries. Today, only two countries maintain the endemic circulation of wild poliovirus. However, the risks have not disappeared.

In areas with low vaccination coverage, vaccine-derived polioviruses can mutate and spread in unvaccinated communities, causing outbreaks similar to those of the wild virus. PAHO highlights the importance of robust epidemiological surveillance and the strategic use of different vaccines to mitigate this risk, without losing sight of the goal of global eradication.

“Protecting, strengthening and following the recommendations of immunization programs is an act of love, solidarity and a shared responsibility of governments, health workers, communities and each of us,” stressed the Director of PAHO.

A call to action

PAHO calls on all social and health sector actors to act decisively to keep the Americas free of polio:

• To fathers, mothers, guardians and caregivers: Review the children’s vaccination schedules and go to the health services if you have any questions.
• To health workers and community leaders.: provide clear information, combat misinformation and continue to be reliable references.
• To governments and decision makers.: guarantee the necessary resources to strengthen immunization programs and active surveillance.

In this World Polio DayPAHO reaffirms its commitment to the global eradication of this disease and to the protection of future generations against preventable threats.

Since before the elimination of wild poliovirus in the Americas, PAHO has worked together with the countries of the region and strategic partners to achieve and sustain this historic achievement, providing technical cooperation, supporting vaccination campaigns. and strengthening surveillance. It has also facilitated access to safe and effective vaccines through pooled purchases at huge prices through its Revolving Fund.