Wild poliovirus importations–West and Central Africa, January 2003-March 2004

Since the 1988 World Health Assembly resolution to eradicate poliomyelitis, three World Health Organization (WHO) regions (Americas, European, and Western Pacific) have been certified polio-free, and the number of countries with endemic polio has decreased from 125 in 1988 to six in 2003 (Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Niger, Nigeria, and Pakistan). During January 2003-March 2004, importations of wild poliovirus (WPV) occurred in eight countries that were previously polio-free: five in the West African block (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo) and three in the Central African block (Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Chad), resulting in 63 polio cases. This report summarizes the 1) investigation and response to these WPV importations and 2) progress toward polio eradication in West and Central Africa.