Malawi has declared a wild polio outbreak after a case was detected in a three-year-old girl. This is the first case in Africa in over five years.

In 2020, Africa was declared free of all forms of wild polio. Authorities are now working towards containing the possible spread, including boosting vaccination. Wild polio continues to be endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The strain identified in Malawi was associated with the one found in Pakistan; however, it remains to be seen how or when it arrived in the African country. The case was confirmed after tests were conducted on the infected child who had developed paralysis, stated the Global Polio Eradication Initiative… (BBC, February 18, 2022)