[Poliomyelitis in 2006: all or nothing]

Abstract

Since it was launched in 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has made great progress: millions of children have been saved from a serious disease and type 2 poliovirus has been eradicated. The original target of polio eradication by the year 2000 was, however, too optimistic: as of 2006, polio remains endemic in 4 countries (Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan). In northern Nigeria, it is particularly difficult to reach enough children during National Immunisation Days to stop the circulation of wild poliovirus and prevent spread to neighbouring countries that are at risk for epidemics due to low routine vaccination coverage. However, critics of the initiative provide no real alternative. The WHO will continue the initiative using new strategies to realise--for the second time in history after smallpox--the eradication ofa serious infectious disease.