Progress Toward Polio Eradication — Worldwide, January 2018–March 2020

• DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6925a4
• Publication Date: 2020-06-25T15:20:21Z
• Authors: Anna N. Chard; S. Deblina Datta; Graham Tallis; Cara C. Burns; Steven G.F. Wassilak; John F. Vertefeuille; Michel Zaffran
• Keywords: Poliomyelitis eradication; Pandemic; Disease Eradication; Herd Immunity

Since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was established in 1988, two of three wild poliovirus (WPV) serotypes (types 2 and 3) have been eradicated.* Transmission WPV type 1 (WPV1) remains uninterrupted only Afghanistan Pakistan. This report summarizes progress toward global polio eradication during January 1, 2018-March 31, 2020 updates previous reports (1,2). In 2019, Pakistan reported highest number WPV1 cases (176) since 2014. During 1-March (as June 19), 54 were reported, an approximate fourfold increase from 12 corresponding period 2019. Paralytic poliomyelitis can also be caused by circulating vaccine-derived (cVDPV), which emerges when attenuated oral vaccine (OPV) virus reverts to neurovirulence following prolonged circulation underimmunized populations (3). withdrawal 2-containing OPV (OPV2) April 2016, cVDPV (cVDPV2) outbreaks increased geographic extent (4). 2020, 21 countries 547 cVDPV2 cases. Complicating transmission coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic mitigation efforts resulted suspension immunization activities disruptions surveillance. When COVID-19 emergency subsides, enhanced support will needed resume field activities.