Indonesia declared Polio-Free by World Health Organization

the World Health Organization has declared Indonesia polio-free. The country experienced a resurgence of polio in 2022 due to continued low routine vaccination coverage and unsanitary conditions, but the disease has been largely eliminated.

In 2021, only 50.9% of children born in Aceh were vaccinated against polio. The last confirmed case of polio was detected in South Papua Province in June 2024. As than, no further cases have been identified, and the World Health Organization declared the outbreak over on Wednesday. Indonesian health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin attributed the success to “the dedication of health workers and the commitment of parents and communities” in a joint statement on Friday.

Saia Mau Piukala, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, called the achievement “an important step toward global eradication of the virus” and emphasized the need for continued vigilance. “I urge our 38 countries and territories to remain vigilant. One day, polio will be a memory. Until then, we must continue to vaccinate,” Piukala said.

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