Antananarivo, May 22 (UNI) Madagascar has officially ended its polio epidemic, with no new cases reported since September 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
“This achievement marks a major milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts towards polio eradication,” the WHO announced in a statement Tuesday.
The outbreak, which began in 2020 in Madagascar, posed a significant public health threat, particularly to children under five and unvaccinated adults. At its peak in September 2023, the epidemic had led to 287 confirmed cases.
In response, Madagascar’s government, through its Emergency Operations Center, partnered with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to roll out a series of emergency vaccination campaigns. The coordinated effort reached more than 19 million people across the country with life-saving polio vaccines.
“This success proves that with political will, strong partnerships and community involvement, polio epidemics can be rapidly brought under control,” said Chikwe Ihekweazu, WHO acting regional director for Africa. “It is now essential to continue these efforts to prevent any future outbreaks.”
