Global progress toward certifying polio eradication and laboratory containment of wild polioviruses–August 2002-August 2003

Since the 1988 World Health Assembly resolution to eradicate poliomyelitis, the number of countries in which polio is endemic has declined from 125 to seven. These countries are in three of the six World Health Organization (WHO) regions (i.e., African, Eastern Mediterranean, and South East Asian). The other three regions (i.e., Americas, European, and Western Pacific) were certified previously as polio-free. This report summarizes the progress made toward global certification of poliomyelitis eradication and implementation of measures to ensure laboratory containment of wild polioviruses (WPVs). The findings indicate that, although much progress has been made, wide disparities in certification and laboratory-containment capabilities underscore the need for continued efforts to verify the eradication of polio worldwide.