title: The polio endgame.
abstract: Paralytic poliomyelitis is a disease that became a public health issue at the beginning of the twentieth century and was more or less eliminated in developed countries by the early 1970s. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative of WHO has now eradicated endemic polio from all but three countries although re-introductions occur. The progress in polio eradication is striking and has accelerated over the last few years. It is likely that it will be finally eradicated from the world soon, the looming issue will then be how to stop vaccinating or modify immunization programs safely so that poliomyelitis does not re-emerge. This review article discusses the history and pathogenesis of poliomyelitis. The progress made, and challenges in sustaining the eradication of this debilitating infectious disease are considered.
authors.affiliation: a National Institute for Biological Standards and Control ; South Mimms , Hertfordshire , UK.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Minor
mesh_terms: D060740:Disease Eradication; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011634:Public Health; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral
keywords: AFP, acute flaccid paralysis; IPV, inactivated polio vaccine; OPV, oral polio vaccine; VAPP, vaccine associated paralytic poliomyelitis; cVDPVs, circulating vaccine derived polioviruses; eradication; infectious disease; polio; poliomyelitis; tOPV, trivalent oral vaccine; vaccine