The incidence of wild poliovirus type 3 continued to
decline in 2010 to historic lows, but continued outbreaks in Pakistan, Chad and
the Democratic Republic of Congo threaten goals to interrupt polio transmission
by 2012.
“As of April 19, 2011, a total of 1,291 wild
poliovirus (WPV) cases with onset of paralysis in 2010 had been reported
worldwide, a 19% decrease compared with 1,604 WPV cases reported in 2009,”
CDC officials wrote in a recently published report, adding that pockets of
outbreaks in areas such as the Congo accounted for 70% of these cases.
The researchers said great strides have been made in
India, where only six WPV cases (five WPV type 1 and one WPV type 3) had been
reported since Sept. 1. The researchers attributed progress in this region to
aggressive polio immunization campaigns.
A recently established independent monitoring board is
overseeing progress toward achieving eradication goals, and at its March
meeting, the board said Pakistan represents the greatest overall risk for
eradication plans. As a result, the Pakistani National Emergency Action Plan
was developed, which will oversee implementation of the plan, and the
independent monitoring board will evaluate the plan’s progress. The group
has also reported that emergency action plans have been developed for
Angola and the Congo, the CDC said.
In an editorial note, the CDC researchers called for
full support from political and health leaders at all levels to achieve the
goal of interrupting transmission by 2012.