Progress toward poliomyelitis eradication--Pakistan and Afghanistan, January 2000-April 2002.

Since 1988, when the World Health Assembly resolved to eradicate poliomyelitis worldwide, the estimated global incidence of polio has decreased 99%. Pakistan began polio eradication activities in 1994 and Afghanistan in 1997. Although polio remains endemic in the two countries, both the incidence and the geographic distribution of poliovirus have been reduced substantially. This report summarizes progress toward eradicating polio in Pakistan and Afghanistan during January 2000-April 2002. Both countries aim to stop transmission of poliovirus by the end of 2002; however, the unstable security situation in the region might threaten this success.