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As long as a single child remains infected with poliovirus, children in all countries are at risk of contracting the disease. The poliovirus can be easily reimported into a country and can spread rapidly. At the beginning of 2001, up to 20 countries still had ongoing poliovirus transmission (reduced from 30 countries at the beginning of 2000).
There are ten highest priority countries and they fall into two categories:
· 'Poliovirus reservoirs' where transmission is particularly intense. These countries are characterized by large populations with low routine immunization coverage and poor sanitation. They are Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.· Countries affected by conflict, where implementation of vaccination and surveillance activities is particularly challenging. They are Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and Sudan.
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