Polio eradication--target 2000

Poliovirus an enterovirus is of 3 types (1, 2 & 3). The 1 poliovirus is most often the cause of paralysis. Poliomyelitis can be eradicated from human soil as man is the only reservoir of this infection and effective vaccines are also available for its control. Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) confers mainly the humoral immunity in comparison to oral polio vaccine (OPV) which gives the intestinal immunity as well. OPV has been recommended by the WHO as the vaccine of choice for global eradication of polio because of its superior ability to inhibit spread of wild polio virus, low cost and its ease of administration. 70-90% of polio cases occur in children less than 3 year of age. Each paralytic case which is the tip of an iceberg probably represents 100 to 1,000 infected persons in the community. The incidence of poliomyelitis is on the decline with 145 of 213 countries today report 0 case of polio. Central Africa & South Asia are the principal reservoirs of wild poliovirus with nearly two thirds of cases being reported from Indian subcontinent. Components of eradication strategy are: sustained high levels of immunisation, annual mass vaccination campaigns of OPV to all children under 5 years of age, establishment of extremely sensitive surveillance systems and targeted immunisation to areas and populations where poliovirus transmission is likely to persist. The task of global eradication of poliomyelitis is uphill but well within our reach. A strong will and political commitment by the Government of India is leading the nation to the goal of polio-free world by the year 2,000.