Progress toward poliomyelitis eradication--Angola, January 1998-June 2002

Since the World Health Assembly resolved in 1988 to eradicate poliomyelitis, the estimated number of polio cases worldwide has declined >99%. Angola began polio eradication activities in 1996. Although polio eradication efforts have been hampered by the country's 27-year-long civil war, both the incidence of polio cases and the geographic circulation of poliovirus in Angola have decreased substantially. The cessation of hostilities on April 4, 2002, presents a new opportunity to reach populations that had been inaccessible and undervaccinated previously. This report summarizes progress made during January 1998-June 2002 and highlights the remaining challenges to eradicating polio in Angola.