Over 10 million children protected against polio in coordinated cross-border campaigns across Angola, DRC and Namibia

Kinshasa / Luanda / Windhoek - "Just two drops. Two miraculous drops that prevent paralysis. Let's all vaccinate our children," said Dr. Silvia Lutucuta, Minister of Health of Angola, as more than 10 million children were vaccinated against polio last month across Angola, Namibia and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in a coordinated regional effort to stop the spread of the virus across borders.

Recent laboratory sequencing has confirmed that genetically linked poliovirus strains are circulating across Angola and Namibia (and potentially in the DRC) underscoring how population movement can drive transmission and why synchronized action is essential.

Since 2025, Angola has reported 39 confirmed cases of type 2 poliovirus. Although previous campaigns significantly reduced transmission, the detection of a genetically linked variant in Namibia's northern Kavango East Region, highlighted the interconnected nature of outbreaks in border regions and the necessity of synchronized interventions. Health authorities from both countries have emphasized that population movement, trade routes and family ties across borders facilitate virus transmission when immunity gaps persist.

So far in 2026, two poliovirus variants have been confirmed in DRC, including one "orphan" strain-meaning a genetically distinct virus that has no close link to previously detected strains, suggesting undetected transmission over time. This highlights the need for sustained vigilance and a rapid, robust outbreak response.

Along the Angola-Namibia border, synchronized campaigns reached high-risk communities, with Angola vaccinating children in 13 municipalities and Namibia achieving over 90% coverage nationwide in prior rounds. These efforts focused especially on hard-to-reach and mobile populations, using door-to-door strategies.

Behind the scenes, laboratories played a critical role in detecting, sequencing and linking virus strains across borders, enabling faster, more precise outbreak response.

These efforts are supported by national governments, key donors such as the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) and partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), working together to strengthen surveillance, vaccination and community engagement.

"This is what regional solidarity looks like in action. By working together across bordersaand guided by strong surveillance and laboratory evidence-we can outpace the virus and protect every child," said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

Polio remains a highly infectious disease that can cause lifelong paralysis, but it is preventable. The health authorities in the three countries are stepping up efforts for sustained community participation to achieve and maintain high immunization coverage, essential to preventing future outbreaks.