Africa has been declared free from wild polio by the independent body, the Africa Regional Certification Commission. Nigeria is the last African country to be declared free from wild polio, having accounted for more than half of all global cases less than a decade ago.
Polio usually affects children under five, sometimes leading to irreversible paralysis. Death can occur when breathing muscles are affected. Polio is a virus which spreads from person to person, usually through contaminated water. Two out of three strains of wild polio virus have been eradicated worldwide. On Tuesday, Africa has been declared free of the last remaining strain of wild poliovirus.
Twenty-five years ago thousands of children in Africa were paralysed by the virus. More than 95% of Africa's population has now been immunised.
The disease is now only found in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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