WHO Extends Pakistan Travel Restrictions Amid Continued Poliovirus Transmission

ISLAMABAD, September 27, 2026: The World Health Organization (WHO) has extended international travel-related measures for Pakistan for another three months amid continued concerns over poliovirus transmission, urging intensified vaccination and surveillance efforts as Pakistan and Afghanistan remain affected by ongoing circulation of the virus.

Cross-border transmission remains a concern

According to the latest WHO assessment, continued transmission of poliovirus in Pakistan and Afghanistan remains a public-health concern, with frequent cross-border population movement creating conditions that can facilitate the spread of the virus between the two countries. The organisation has maintained that the persistence of poliovirus transmission requires sustained vaccination, surveillance and coordinated public-health measures to prevent further international spread.

The WHO said poliovirus transmission continues to be reported in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi, while virus circulation from Afghanistan has also been detected in areas including southern KP and the Quetta block. The continued movement of populations across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border remains an important consideration for eradication efforts, particularly in areas where vaccination coverage and access to healthcare services are affected by insecurity and other operational challenges.

Karachi and other high-risk areas

Karachi has emerged as a particular area of concern in the latest assessment, with the WHO identifying the city as an important centre of ongoing poliovirus transmission. The organisation has called for strengthened and targeted vaccination campaigns in high-risk areas, including the Central Pakistan block, southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Quetta block, alongside enhanced disease surveillance and rapid response measures.

The WHO has also highlighted the challenge posed by children who remain unvaccinated or are repeatedly missed during vaccination campaigns. Vaccine refusal and difficulties in reaching children in certain communities continue to complicate efforts to interrupt transmission, making community engagement and effective communication an important component of Pakistan’s eradication strategy.

Security barriers leave children unvaccinated

According to the WHO communiqué, security-related challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have resulted in approximately 250,000 children being deprived of access to polio vaccination campaigns. The figure underscores the operational difficulties faced by health teams in reaching children in areas affected by insecurity, where repeated vaccination activities are essential to maintaining population immunity and preventing renewed transmission.

Pakistan has continued to conduct nationwide and targeted polio vaccination campaigns as part of its broader eradication programme, with health authorities working with international partners to improve vaccination coverage, strengthen surveillance and identify areas where children remain unvaccinated. The country’s geographical position and extensive population movement also make coordination with neighbouring Afghanistan an important element of efforts to interrupt cross-border transmission.

Why the travel measures continue

The extension of the WHO travel-related measures reflects the organisation’s continuing assessment of the international risk associated with poliovirus transmission. Such measures are designed to reduce the possibility of international spread while encouraging affected countries to strengthen vaccination and surveillance programmes.

The WHO has continued to emphasise that sustained political commitment, community participation, effective vaccination campaigns and reliable disease surveillance remain essential to eliminating poliovirus transmission. For Pakistan, strengthening access to vaccination in high-risk areas, addressing vaccine hesitancy and ensuring that security-related barriers do not leave children unprotected remain key components of the ongoing eradication effort.