OPINION: How to Eradicate Polio Once and for All

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Wall Street Journal
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OPINION
July 24, 2012, 6:57 p.m. ET
How to Eradicate Polio Once and for All
Only three endemic countries remain—Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. But they pose special problems.
BY JAY WINSTEN AND EMILY SERAZIN

Extract
Earlier this year, the World Health Organization removed India from the list of polio-endemic countries, a victory that involved 2.4 million volunteers administering vaccine to nearly 172 million children. Only three endemic countries remain—Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria—and a massive 24-year global effort to eradicate the disease forever is now within striking distance of its goal. However, there is still a very real danger that the entire campaign could come undone if obstacles to vaccination stall further progress and enable the disease to escape its current confines.

An intensive effort is underway to prevent any further spread of the virus while …

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