from RI News…..
A key goal of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is interrupting transmission of the wild poliovirus by the end of 2012.
Among the four polio-endemic countries, India has reported only one case of polio so far this year. The other polio-endemic countries are Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan.
There’s good progress in Afghanistan while spotlighting the challenge of immunizing children in conflict area. Nigeria also has been making good headway but needs to sustain the political commitment required to ensure eradication of the disease.
In Pakistan, cases doubled in the first six months of 2011, compared with the same period in 2010. There’s also concern about controlling polio in countries with reestablished transmission, including Angola, Chad, and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Despite these challenges, polio cases worldwide decreased almost 50% during the first six months of 2011, compated with the same period in 2010. Type 3 polio numbers have dripped to 15 this year. It appearts type 2 will soon be eradicated completely.
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