Progress toward poliomyelitis eradication–South-East Asia, January 2000-June 2001

Since the World Health Assembly resolved in 1988 to eradicate poliomyelitis globally, the estimated number of polio cases worldwide has declined 99%. During 1994, member countries of the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) began accelerating efforts to eradicate polio. By 2000, wild poliovirus was detected in only four of the 10 countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Myanmar. This report summarizes polio eradication activities during January 2000-June 2001 in SEAR, where wild poliovirus transmission has declined rapidly and is occurring primarily in northern India.