What was the aim of the global poliovirus eradication effort initiated in 1988?

• A. Eliminate poliovirus worldwide, leading to significant reductions in cases.
• B. Eradicate only the wild poliovirus type 2 strain.
• C. Develop a universal vaccine for all enteroviruses.
• D. Establish regional vaccination programs without stopping transmission.

Answer: (A)

The aim is to eliminate poliovirus worldwide by stopping transmission in every country. The global effort was built around reaching every child with vaccination, plus strong surveillance to detect any poliomyelitis cases and rapid outbreak response, with the goal of interrupting all chains of wild poliovirus transmission across all regions and serotypes. This is broader than simply reducing cases or focusing on a single strain, and it isn’t about only establishing regional programs—eradication means the virus would no longer circulate anywhere. While progress has led to the disappearance of some serotypes over time, the central objective remains the global elimination of wild poliovirus transmission.