Progress toward poliomyelitis eradication -- Europe and Central Asian Republics, 1991-September 1997.

In 1988, the World Health Assembly resolved to eradicate poliomyelitis by 2000; this goal was reaffirmed in 1989 by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Europe. Although most of the 51 member states of the European Region of WHO (EUR) (including Israel and the Central Asian Republics) have reported zero polio cases since at least the early 1980s, endemic transmission or outbreaks of polio continued to be reported through 1996 in some countries. This report updates progress of the EUR polio eradication initiative through September 1997, including progress in polio vaccination activities, interruption of wild poliovirus transmission, and the establishment of sensitive surveillance systems in the region.