Epidemiology and control of poliomyelitis

RESUMO

The World Health Assembly (WHA) declared that the World Health Organization (WHO) was committed to the global eradication of poliomyelitis. As with smallpox; eradication involves the additionalcriterion of the elimination of indigenous transmission of wild virus. This article reviews the epidemiology of poliomyelitis; strategies for polio eradication and the progress made so far. Threats to eradication objectives are identified and changes in polio eradication initiative deadline are outlined