title: Poliomyelitis eradication in China: 1953-2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Poliomyelitis has historically been endemic in China and has been considered an important cause of disability and death.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed strategies and measures of poliomyelitis control and eradication from 1953 to 2012. Data from notifiable disease and routine immunization reporting systems and acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 20 000 poliomyelitis cases were reported annually in the prevaccine era. During 1965-1977, live, attenuated oral poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV) was administered to children through annual mass campaigns in the winter, and the number of poliomyelitis cases started to decline. A cold chain system was established during 1982, and OPV coverage increased during the early stage of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, from 1978 to 1988. Between 1989 and 1999, routine immunization was strengthened, supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) were conducted, and the AFP surveillance system was established. China reported a last indigenous poliomyelitis case in 1994 and was certified as free of polio in 2000. To maintain its polio-free status, China kept >90% coverage of 3 doses of OPV, conducted SIAs in high-risk areas, and maintained high-quality of AFP surveillance. China succeeded in stopping the outbreak in Xinjiang in 2011.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  China's polio-free status was achieved and maintained through strengthening routine immunization and implementing SIAs and AFP surveillance.
authors.affiliation: National Immunization Programme.
authors.forename: Wen-Zhou
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: National Immunization Programme.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Immunization Programme.
authors.forename: Hai-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: National Immunization Programme.
authors.forename: Chun-Xiang
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shuang-Li
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Bo
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: National Immunization Programme.
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: National Immunization Programme.
authors.forename: Hui-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: National Immunization Programme.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D060740:Disease Eradication; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines
keywords: China; eradication; poliomyelitis