Eradicating polio: the dollars and sense.

Hopefully, we are now at the bitter end of global eradication of wild polioviruses, with annual cases of paralytic polio down globally from an estimated 350,000 in 1988 to under 2000 today.[1] Following successful eradication, we must choose wisely among the many policy options[2] that will determine our future risks, costs, and benefits.[3-8] But first, we need to complete polio eradication. We cannot declare success before the war is won.