Malawi has launched an emergency polio vaccination campaign in Blantyre after health authorities detected circulating vaccine derived poliovirus in sewage samples, raising concerns about possible community transmission. The campaign targets eight districts in Blantyre, Malawi’s second-largest city, with a focus on children under five, who are most vulnerable to the disease. Health officials say the detection does not mean an outbreak has occurred but signals immunity gaps that need urgent action.
Dr Akosua Sika Ayisi of the World Health Organization warned that polio remains a threat where vaccination coverage is incomplete. She stressed that even a single unvaccinated child can allow the virus to spread, undermining global eradication efforts. Polio has no cure and can cause irreversible paralysis, making vaccination the only effective protection. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, vomiting and headaches, with severe cases leading to lifelong disability.
Authorities plan to expand the campaign nationwide. Joe Collins Opio, Chief of Health at UNICEF Malawi, said the response is expected to cover all 29 districts within four weeks. He urged parents and caregivers to ensure their children are vaccinated, calling it a shared national responsibility. Malawi was certified polio-free in 2005, but health officials say continued vigilance is essential as long as the virus circulates elsewhere and immunization gaps persist.
