Yaoundé, 2 September 2008 -- There is an urgent need to interrupt wild poliovirus in Northern Nigeria, sustain optimum involvement of communities in high-risk areas, and conduct independent monitoring and evaluation of immunization activities at all levels.

This key recommendation is contained in a report to be discussed today at the fifty-eighth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa taking place in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Nigeria is the only African country and one of the four worldwide where polio is still endemic. The others are Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.

The report says that although the number of wild poliovirus cases in Nigeria declined by 75% from 1125 cases in 2006 to 279 in 2007, and in the African Region from 1192 to 367 during the same period, “endemic transmission continues to be restricted to Northern Nigeria”.

The report says that to ensure impact of interventions, innovative approaches to improve acceptability, community participation and ownership will have to be intensified. Nigeria recently introduced the “immunization plus” days which have resulted in better community acceptability and a 25% increase in the number of children vaccinated in the north of the country.

So far, five states in Nigeria have achieved at least 80% oral polio vaccine coverage compared to none at the end of 2006. This increase in immunity is reflected in declining poliovirus transmission in high-burden states of the West African country.

For further information:

Technical contact:

Dr. Sam Okiror

Tel: + 47 241 39171

E-mail: okirors [at] afro.who.int (okirors[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int)

Media contact:

Samuel Ajibola

Tel : +47 241 39378

E-mail : ajibolas [at] afro.who.int (ajibolas[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int)