The Nigerien health ministry reports that while COVID-19 continues spreading through multiple regions, several areas are simultaneously experiencing a renewed polio outbreak. Though transmission routes differ—COVID-19 spreads via respiratory droplets while polio transmits through contaminated water or food—the diseases share overlapping symptoms like fever, headaches, and coughing.

“Niger successfully halted previous polio epidemics in 2019 through comprehensive mass vaccination campaigns,” explains Dr. Pascal Mkanda, World Health Organization’s Polio Eradication Programme Coordinator for Africa. “However, the current COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to suspend these critical campaigns due to strict social distancing and hygiene requirements.”

In December 2024, Niger, along with Kenya and Mozambique, declared the end of 24-month polio outbreaks. Yet this new vaccine-derived poliovirus case—paralyzing two children in Niamey and Tillabéri—stems from a separate transmission chain unrelated to last year’s controlled outbreak.

“Polio will continue circulating”

“Unfortunately, polio will inevitably keep spreading, potentially paralyzing more children, as we cannot conduct timely, high-quality vaccination campaigns,” warns Dr. Mkanda.

Niger now joins 14 other African nations battling vaccine-derived polio outbreaks, including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Togo, and Zambia. Weak routine immunization coverage, vaccine hesitancy, geographical barriers, and suboptimal campaign quality have all contributed to immunization gaps across these nations.

With mass vaccination drives postponed until further notice, the African Regional Polio Eradication Programme is prioritizing essential disease surveillance. While polio has no cure, the inactivated polio vaccine provides safe, effective protection. Health authorities across Africa, including Niger, are urgently working to boost childhood immunity levels and prevent polio-related paralysis.