[The predictable development of poliomyelitis]

Poliomyelitis eradication is more complicated than Smallpox one because disappearance of the disease does not mean that poliovirus is no more circulating. As long as eradication is not achieved, it is important to continue to draw attention of the clinicians about poliomyelitis to maintain a high vaccination coverage, to seek for unimmunized small group, and to recommend a booster for all adult traveller going in endemic areas. Replacement of living poliomyelitis vaccine by inactivated one is ineluctable as complications though exceptional will become less and less accepted, and the surveillance of poliovirus circulation will be facilitated. National and international reference laboratories will take a prominent part. Interruption of poliomyelitis vaccination could be decided only when WHO will have reviewed data from all countries, one by one.