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December 16, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Angola--Poliomyelitis: Country Off WHO Risk List"

Africa News Service (www.allafrica.com) (12/13/02)

The World Health Organization has removed Angola from the risk list of countries fighting to eradicate poliomyelitis, as no cases have been recorded there this year.  The national director of the Wide Vaccination Programme (Pav), Fatima Valente, said the evaluation by the WHO included specific recommendation for a reinforcement of Pav's activities, primarily in Angola's eastern region, which she said is seen as a "silent zone which, despite the absence of suspected cases, should deserve some attention." Continuing immunization programs are vital, Valente added, because there remains a risk of infection from neighboring countries and because Angola has only recently ended a war.

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