Kathmandu: Nepal has ranked first in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) South-East Asia Region for surveillance of suspected polio cases in 2025.
The surveillance, which focused on children under the age of 15, was conducted across ten countries in collaboration with the WHO and national public health authorities. Samples from suspected cases were tested in Thailand, and no positive polio cases were confirmed.
According to Dr Abhiyan Gautam, Chief of the Child Health and Vaccination Section under the Family Welfare Division, Nepal detected 7.1 suspected polio cases per 100,000 population. A total of 579 suspected cases were identified nationwide, while laboratory testing of 40 cases is still pending.
WHO standards require countries to detect at least two suspected polio cases per 100,000 population. Nepal significantly exceeded this benchmark during the surveillance period. Health authorities say stronger surveillance enhances the country’s ability to prevent potential polio transmission.
Nepal was officially declared polio-free in 2014, with the last confirmed case reported in Rautahat district in 2010. Dr Gautam said that during the latest surveillance, Rolpa recorded 1.9 suspected cases per 100,000 population, while all other districts reported more than two cases.
In terms of polio surveillance performance, Nepal ranked ahead of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, South Korea, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste—all members of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO).
After Nepal, Bhutan reported 5.32 suspected polio cases per 100,000 people, followed by India with 5.12 cases. Bangladesh recorded 2.80 cases, Myanmar 2.51, and South Korea 2.38 cases per 100,000 population.
In 2024, Nepal had detected 4.5 suspected polio cases per 100,000 people. During the same year, children aged five to nine years received polio vaccinations. Under Nepal’s routine immunisation programme, infants receive oral polio drops at six, 10 and 14 weeks of age, along with injectable polio vaccines at 14 weeks and nine months.
(RSS)
