28th Meeting of the European Regional Certification Commission for Poliomyelitis Eradication

The 28th Meeting of the European Regional Certification Commission for Poliomyelitis Eradication (RCC) reviewed annual updates submitted by the Member States of the Region on the status of the national polio eradication programme. The RCC concluded that with the exception of Israel, there was no wild-type poliovirus (WPV) or vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) transmission in the WHO European Region in 2013, but the risk of importation and subsequent transmission remains high in some countries. Evidence from Israel for a full 6‐month absence of WPV transmission in the presence of enhanced surveillance is required before the RCC can make a final decision on the polio‐free status of the Region. The RCC also identified issues that threatened the future polio‐free status of the Region and proposed actions to be taken by Member States and the Regional Office for reducing the risk of polioviruses circulating in the Region.