World Health Organisation on Friday took Nigeria off the list of polio-endemic countries, hailing a “historic achievement” more than a year after the last recorded case of the disease in Africa’s most populous nation.
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Nigeria’s success leaves just two countries-Pakistan and Afghanistan-where transmission of wild poliovirus, the cause of most cases of polio, has never been stopped.
Thirty years ago children in a 125 countries were affected by the virus, spread by poor sanitation and contaminated water.
Immunization and surveillance activities must continue to rapidly detect a potential re-introduction or re-emergence of the virus, the agency said, explaining that only after three years have passed without a case of wild poliovirus on the African continent will an official “certification” of polio eradication be conducted at the regional level in Africa.
Although polio is close to being eradicated throughout the world, it still remains endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
More versus 50 a long time ago, the Polio vaccination was designed by Dr. Salk, it apparent a changing spot inside the cases of humankind to withstand the devastating polio problem.
“One year without polio is a milestone, but it’s not the end of polio”. Both countries comprise the remaining 1% of Polio cases left to eradicate, they also posts the most challenge, according to experts since the Taliban group banned vaccinations in their territories.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative sets its target to eradicate polio in the world by 2018. “It shows we can eradicate polio if proven strategies are fully implemented”.
“This is a clear example of success under very hard circumstances”, said Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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“Rotary congratulates Nigeria on its tremendous accomplishment in stopping polio”.
