Epidemiological analysis of poliomyelitis cases in 1994, China

In 1994, the number of reported polio cases was 307 in China. This number was 53% lower than that in 1993, and was the lowest record ever in China. In 1994, the distribution of polio cases was highly dispersed and the number of outbreak was reduced obviously. Of 225 counties which reported polio cases in 1994, polio outbreak occured in 2 counties. Cases due to polio outbreak accounted for 4.2% of the total cases. The distribution of polio wild virus was narrow but the regional difference still existed. In the southeast, high risk region for polio consisting Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian three provinces, the number of polio cases decreased remarkably in 1994. On the contrary, in the southwest region which, consisting Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan four provinces, the number of polio cases increased obviously, accounted for approximately a half of the total number in 1994. During the coming 1 to 2 years, we should emphasis on these regions and provinces where high incidence was noticed in our polio eradication program. Those provinces should include Xinjiang, Fujian. Hubei three provinces that polio wild virus was identified in 1994, and Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan in the south west region as well. We should further increase Polio vaccination coverage of children especially floating and unplanned ones through strengthening routine immunization and carring out new national immunization day activity.