The Lancet Infectious Disease
Oct 2010  Volume 10 Number 10  Pages 653 – 736
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

Reflection and Reaction
Reconstructing the past of poliovirus eradication efforts
Carlos Franco-Paredes

The March and June, 2010, issues of The Lancet Infectious Diseases1,2 presented two optimistic views of the polio eradication effort that was led by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI); however, it might be wise to review the historical record of this initiative and, without losing optimism, be more cautious in prediction of successes.