The World Health Organization's criteria for declaration of polio eradication requires a country to have reported no case of wild poliovirus for a minimum of how many years with adequate surveillance?

• A 1 year
• B 2 years
• C 5 years
• D 3 years ✓

Explanation

WHO/GPEI criteria for certifying a country or region free of wild poliovirus requires absence of wild poliovirus transmission for at least 3 consecutive years with adequate surveillance (AFP rate ≥ 2 per 1 lakh children < 15 years and ≥ 80% stool adequacy). India was certified polio-free in March 2014, three years after the last wild poliovirus case in January 2011. The 3-year period provides adequate confidence given surveillance sensitivity.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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