Getting Polio Eradication Back on Track in Nigeria

Abstract

The recent cancellation of polio-vaccination campaigns in several key northern Nigerian states where poliomyelitis is endemic¹ has focused attention on this African country, which reported more cases of the disease in 2003 than any of the other six remaining countries with transmission of indigenous wild poliovirus. Nigeria is currently the country that poses the greatest risk to the achievement of the goal of eradicating poliomyelitis globally by the end of 2004. Although the current situation in Nigeria is of great concern, the country has already achieved remarkable progress toward eradication of the disease,² demonstrating its capacity to implement high-quality eradication . . .