전 세계 폴리오 박멸을 위한 세계보건기구의 정책 및 밀폐관리 전략

WHO Policies and Containment Strategies for Global Polio Eradication

Poliomyelitis was endemic in many countries worldwide; however, its incidence significantly declined following the development of polio vaccines in the 1950s. In 1988, the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a resolution for global polio eradication at the World Health Assembly (WHA), which led to the establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to spearhead vaccine distribution and immunization campaigns in developing countries. As a result of extensive global vaccination efforts, wild poliovirus type 2 was declared eradicated in 2015, followed by wild poliovirus type 3 in 2019, leaving only wild poliovirus type 1 in circulation. To ensure complete eradication, WHO has requested all countries to maintain polio vaccination coverage and to certify containment measures at facilities handling poliovirus. This requirement reflects the need to prepare for both the eradication and the post-eradication era of poliomyelitis. Moving forward, WHO has directed all countries to follow the GPEI's Eradication Strategy 2022-2026, which includes the full destruction of non-essential poliovirus and strict containment certification for poliovirus-essential facilities (PEFs) through each nation’s National Authority for Containment (NAC) by 2026. This review critically examines the WHO guidelines for polio eradication, identifies prevailing challenges, and explores prospective strategies for addressing these issues.