World Polio Day 2026: Why India must stay alert despite being polio-free
New Delhi: World Polio Day is being celebrated on October 24, 2026. On the occasion, it is pertinent to mention that India was declared polio-free in 2014, marking a significant milestone in the country’s struggle against the disease. Successful vaccination campaigns, community awareness and continuous surveillance helped the country disrupt the transmission cycle of the wild poliovirus. However, being declared polio-free does not mean that the disease can be ignored. The fact that poliovirus continues to circulate in some parts of the world poses a risk of its reintroduction into polio-free regions.
Why India needs to stay alert
Polio is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus, mainly affecting children under five years of age. The virus is primarily spread faecal-oral route, especially through contaminated food and water. It can enter the central nervous system, resulting in paralysis in severe cases. There is no cure for paralytic polio, but vaccination can prevent the disease and its complications.
India’s polio-free status means that the virus is no longer circulating in the country, but not globally. Given that people travel between regions by various means, imported infections cannot be ruled out.
Vaccination remains the strongest defence
Vaccination against polio remains essential even after a nation has halted local transmission of the disease. The oral polio vaccine (OPV) and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) are used to protect children against the disease. High immunisation coverage reduces the number of vulnerable people, helping prevent polio from spreading if the virus enters the country.
Parents should ensure that their children receive polio vaccine doses in line with the national immunisation programme. They should also participate in the Pulse Polio campaign initiated by the government.
Why surveillance cannot stop
Health surveillance systems help identify poliovirus infections in their early stages. Medical personnel closely monitor cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), especially among children, and conduct various tests to determine the cause. In addition, environmental monitoring of sewage can identify the presence of poliovirus even when no cases of polio are recorded.
Threat of vaccine-derived poliovirus
It is also important to remain alert to the re-emergence of vaccine-derived poliovirus among inadequately vaccinated populations. In rare circumstances, the weakened virus used in the oral vaccine can circulate for a long time within communities with low vaccination coverage and undergo changes in its genetic makeup that allow it to develop disease-causing properties.
This should not lead to vaccine avoidance, as it highlights the importance of maintaining high immunisation coverage.
Protecting the next generation
India’s achievement in eliminating polio must be maintained through continued vaccination, additional vaccination drives, proper monitoring and public awareness.
The aim is not just to keep India free from polio but also to participate in global efforts to eradicate the disease. Global awareness must continue until polio is fully eradicated.
(By Dr Manavi KM, Attending Consultant, PICU & Paediatric Emergency)
Disclaimer: This article is written by the doctor mentioned above and is intended for informational purposes only. The findings should not be considered medical advice or used for self-diagnosis or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.