Spreading polio remains a global hazard

Just when it looked as if polio was nearing global eradication, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the international spread of polio a public health emergency that warranted aggressive control measures. In response, WHO has urged all nations to carry out more vigorous immunisation campaigns. Ten countries currently have active transmission of wild poliovirus; three of these countries are still endemic for the disease and seven are classified re-infected. In Geneva this week, experts at the World Health Assembly, the world’s health policy-making body, are expected to discuss the emergency measures intended to reach all children with oral polio vaccine. All countries are expected to implement phase 1 containment activities for poliovirus by the end of 2015, ensure highly sensitive surveillance for polioviruses, and implement relevant polio vaccination recommendations for travellers. These WHO declarations underscore the urgent need to eradicate the disease; and yet, younger generations in many countries have lived in polio-free countries for...