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May 10, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Number of Global Polio Cases Hit Its Lowest Point Last Year" New York Times (www.nytimes.com) (05/10/02) P. A11; Olson, Elizabeth

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced recently that the number of polio cases fell to its lowest recorded point last year, but it warned that efforts to eradicate the disease could by undermined by a funding shortfall and regional conflicts. According to the WHO, the number of cases of polio worldwide fell from 2,979 in 2000 to only 537 cases last year.  Moreover, the number of countries reporting outbreaks of the disease fell from 20 to 10.  The WHO, which began its global anti-polio campaign in 1988, says it is hoping to completely eradicate the disease by the end of 2005.  The U.N. agency warned, however, that it still needs another $275 million to complete the job, and that amount could increase if new polio cases arise.  One country where polio can still be found is Afghanistan, where fighting has had a serious effect on the country's polio surveillance system. Nevertheless, the World Health Organization was able to provide oral polio vaccine recently for approximately 6 million children in the country.

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