Progress toward poliomyelitis eradication--African Region, 1999-March 2000

In 1988, the World Health Assembly resolved to eradicate poliomyelitis globally by 2000 (1). The African Region (AFR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) began implementing polio eradication strategies in 1996, including National Immunization Days (NIDs*) and acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance (2,3). This report summarizes progress toward polio eradication in AFR during 1999-March 2000, and suggests that although substantial progress has been reported toward interrupting poliovirus transmission in eastern and southern Africa, poliovirus remains endemic in other African countries in west and central Africa, especially among those experiencing internal strife or civil war.