title: Polio eradication in the World Health Organization African Region, 2008-2012.
abstract: A renewed commitment at the regional and the global levels led to substantial progress in the fight for polio eradication in the African Region (AFR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) during 2008-2012. In 2008, there were 912 reported cases of wild poliovirus (WPV) infection in 12 countries in the region. This number had been reduced to 128 cases in 3 countries in 2012, of which 122 were in Nigeria, the only remaining country with endemic circulation of WPV in AFR. During 2008-2012, circulation apparently ceased in the 3 AFR countries with reestablished WPV transmission-Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Chad. Outbreaks in West Africa continued to occur in 2008-2010 but were more rapidly contained, with fewer cases than during earlier years. This progress has been attributed to better implementation of core strategies, increased accountability, and implementation of innovative approaches. During this period, routine coverage with 3 doses of oral polio vaccine in AFR, as measured by WHO-United Nations Children's Fund estimates, increased slightly, from 72% to 74%. Despite this progress, challenges persist in AFR, and 2013 was marked by new setbacks and importations. High population immunity and strong surveillance are essential to sustain progress and assure that AFR reaches its goal of eradicating WPV.
authors.affiliation: Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kretsinger
authors.affiliation: Immunization, Vaccines and Emergencies, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasasira
authors.affiliation: Immunization, Vaccines and Emergencies, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poy
authors.affiliation: Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.affiliation: Strategy Support and Coordination Unit, Polio Operations and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Everts
authors.affiliation: Immunization, Vaccines and Emergencies, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.
authors.forename: Mbaye
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salla
authors.affiliation: Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Kristin H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Steven G F
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Wassilak
authors.affiliation: Immunization, Vaccines and Emergencies, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.
authors.forename: Deogratias
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nshimirimana
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D060740:Disease Eradication / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019371:Topography, Medical; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral
keywords: Africa; WHO Africa Region; acute flaccid paralysis; polio eradication; surveillance; vaccine-derived poliovirus; wild poliovirus