THE ERADICATION OF POLIOMYELITIS IN EGYPT - CRITICAL FACTORS AFFECTING PROGRESS TO DATE

Poliomyelitis eradication activities in Egypt were reviewed to identif y the critical factors for the progress seen by 1995 and to highlight problems that could be avoided in other countries in which poliomyelit is is endemic. National immunization and surveillance data demonstrate that the combination of high routine immunization coverage (>85%) wit h oral polio vaccine combined with two properly conducted rounds of na tional immunization days (NIDs) resulted in a 75% reduction in reporte d polio cases between 1992 and 1993. Available data suggest that earli er control strategies, such as single-round NIDs in 1990 and 1991, the administration of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) at 2 months of age in 1992-1993, and the use of ''mop-up'' campaigns while wild poli ovirus was still widespread, did not contribute substantially to the r ecent decline in cases. Proper implementation of the World Health Orga nization's recommended strategies can eliminate wild poliovirus circul ation in the large, densely populated tropical countries in which poli omyelitis remains endemic.