Progress toward poliomyelitis eradication–Bangladesh, 1995-1997

As a member of the World Health Assembly, in 1988 Bangladesh adopted the goal of poliomyelitis eradication by 2000. To achieve this goal, Bangladesh has implemented the following strategies recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO): 1) achieving high routine coverage with at least three doses of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV3) among infants aged <12 months; 2) conducting National Immunization Days (NIDs) to interrupt widespread circulation of poliovirus; 3) establishing sensitive systems for surveillance of polio cases and poliovirus that rely on acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) reporting; and 4) carrying out “mopping-up” campaigns to eliminate the last foci of poliovirus transmission. This report describes progress toward polio eradication in Bangladesh during 1995-1997. The findings suggest that polio cases and wild poliovirus circulation are declining rapidly and that polio-eradication activities have effectively assisted in addressing other health priorities in Bangladesh.