Re-emerging poliovirus in Nepal

Surveillance and vaccination are important to sustain Nepal’s polio eradication status.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Nepal polio-free in 2014 after the country maintained the status for three consecutive years. Nevertheless, a few days back, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) announced the re-emergence of the poliovirus, prompting preparations for a polio vaccination drive in Kathmandu. Although the virus was found in sewage/river water samples rather than clinical samples, it raises a grave concern regarding public health threats in Nepal.