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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.

This paper demonstrates the application of spatial statistical tools for effective governance by way of designing an epidemiologically guided public healthcare system for eradication of poliomyelitis from India. Spatial scan statistic tools detect high priority areas or ‘hotspots’ for focused management response to interrupt the transmission of wild poliovirus in Bihar, India. This paper highlights probable lacunae in the existing acute flaccid paralysis surveillance as well as suggests a modified surveillance mechanism while detecting ‘hotspot’ districts in Bihar for effective management intervention for interrupting the transmission of wild poliovirus in the state.