Certification of poliomyelitis eradication--the Americas, 1994

In May 1985, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) proposed the goal of interruption of wild poliovirus transmission in the Western Hemisphere by 1990 (1). This proposal was endorsed by all member governments and was supported by several agencies and organizations, including Rotary International, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United Nations Children's Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Canadian Public Health Association. On August 20, 1994, PAHO reported that 3 years had passed since the occurrence of the last case of poliomyelitis associated with wild poliovirus isolation in the Americas (Peru, August 1991) (2). This report summarizes the steps to certify eradication of polio in the Americas.