Background: Provides a definition of eradication and of the disease: that it affects mostly children, results in paralysis in some cases and is preventable through vaccination.
The disease is nearly eradicated, but remains in three countries, which reported 22 cases in 2017. Eradication practices continue with 400 million vaccinations annually.
Surveillance: Virus detection activities currently take place in 70 countries to both detect new cases and gain evidence for certification of eradication.