title: Progress toward global interruption of wild poliovirus transmission, 2010-2013, and tackling the challenges to complete eradication.
abstract: Despite substantial progress, global polio eradication has remained elusive. Indigenous wild poliovirus (WPV) transmission in 4 endemic countries (Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan) persisted into 2010 and outbreaks from imported WPV continued. By 2013, most outbreaks in the interim were promptly controlled. The number of polio-affected districts globally has declined by 74% (from 481 in 2009 to 126 in 2013), including a 79% decrease in the number of affected districts in endemic countries (from 304 to 63). India is now polio-free. The challenges to success in the remaining polio-endemic countries include (1) threats to the security of vaccinators in each country and a ban on polio vaccination in areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan; (2) a risk of decreased government commitment; and (3) remaining surveillance gaps. Coordinated efforts under the International Health Regulations and efforts to mitigate the challenges provide a clear opportunity to soon secure global eradication.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Steven G F
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Wassilak
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: M Steven
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Oberste
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rudolph H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Tangermann
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ousmane M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Diop
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hamid S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D060740:Disease Eradication / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019371:Topography, Medical
keywords: eradication; international health regulations; outbreak control; polio; surveillance