Towards the eradication of Poliomyelitis

In 1988, the World Health Assembly resolved to eradicate poliomyelitis globally. The number of countries in which polio is endemic declined from 125 to 4 by the end of 2006. Although progress towards interrupting transmission has continued, it is currently endemic in four countries and, on occasion, this goal is threatened by a resurgence of polio caused by the poliovirus spread from endemic countries to previously polio-free countries. This report describes the general features of poliovirus, the etiologic agent and clinical features of poliomyelitis, resumes the general measures adopted by WHO (World Health Organization) for polio eradication, and the evolution of the incidence to date.