Testing rates for polio have rebounded after a drop amid the COVID-19 pandemic

The world is close to eradicating polio. Annual cases have dropped from an estimated 400,000 in the 1980s to less than 4,000 in recent years.

But, to cross the finish line, sufficient testing is crucial to ensure that cases aren’t missed.

The World Health Organization recommends that at least 80% of potential polio cases be tested for the virus. Potential cases are identified based on “acute flaccid paralysis”, a sudden onset of paralysis in the limbs.

As shown in the chart, disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic led to a drop in polio testing rates in many countries. Thankfully, this new data shows that polio testing has rebounded.

This is due to the dedicated effort of countless health workers and opens the way to a future free from polio.