New Delhi / 26 March 2026 — The WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia (SEARO) convened a regional webinar on strengthening acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and environmental surveillance data analysis to help sustain the Region’s polio-free status.
The webinar brought together 167 participants, including officials from ministries of health, WHO country offices and partners across the Region, as part of activities commemorating 12 years of polio-free status in South-East Asia.
Sessions highlighted the continuing global risk of poliovirus spread and the need to maintain high population immunity alongside sensitive surveillance systems for early detection and rapid response. Participants reviewed core AFP and environmental surveillance indicators and discussed how routine performance monitoring can reveal subnational gaps that national averages may miss.
Panelists emphasized that early detection through high-quality surveillance is the most resource-efficient way to prevent wider transmission and avoid costly outbreak responses. Examples showed how disaggregated analysis can guide corrective action in high-risk and vulnerable populations, and how environmental surveillance complements AFP surveillance to strengthen overall sensitivity.
The webinar also underscored the importance of continuous use of surveillance data to drive timely public health action. Participants were encouraged to look beyond numerical targets, assess data quality, and translate findings into practical improvements at national and subnational levels.
WHO SEARO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Member States through capacity-building, peer learning and regional collaboration to strengthen surveillance and sustain the Region’s polio-free status.