PARALYTIC POLIOMYELITIS - SEASONED STRATEGIES, DISAPPEARING DISEASE

With more than 2 years having elapsed since the last case of paralytic poliomyelitis occurred in the Western Hemisphere, significant progres s has been made towards the global eradication of wild polioviruses. P oliomyelitis is disappearing from Europe, North Africa, Southern Afric a, the Middle East, China, and the Pacific. Reported poliomyelitis cas es declined to 15 587 cases in 1992. Current eradication strategies re commended by the World Health Organization include national mass campa igns administering oral poliovaccine to all children under 5 years of age, enhanced surveillance to detect cases of acute flaccid paralysis, creating a network of laboratories for viral diagnosis, and targeted immunisation to areas and populations where poliovirus transmission is likely to persist. The major obstacles to eradication include inadequ ate political support for eradication and insufficient funding, especi ally for the purchase of vaccine. With additional support for the inte rnational eradication effort, epidemics of poliomyelitis will cease in developing countries, and industrialised countries will be able to sa ve the large sums spent each year on poliovaccine and rehabilitation.