No polio cases have been confirmed in any of the other 50 countries in the WHO European Region. If it is successful, the poliovirus will survive only in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The Ministries of Health of the four countries are responsible for implementing the campaign.
Viruses can spread to different parts of the world within hours.
As long as poliovirus has not been completely eradicated from Turkey and neighbouring countries, there is a significant risk that polio will reappear in Europe or elsewhere in the world. WHO launched its global polio eradication initiative in 1988. Eradication is targeted for the year 2000.