Acute flaccid paralysis surveillance in Australia progress report 1995-1998.

of molecular methods for enterovirus detection, there would be fewer isolates available in future years. To date, nearly 400 poliovirus isolates have been proven to be Sabin vaccine-like. Once the large number of isolates from NSW has been screened, over 950 enteroviruses will have been tested to exclude wild poliovirus. With the expected global eradication of wild poliovirus by the end of the year 2000 or 2001, the next task for laboratories will be to either transfer wild poliovirus strains to designated repositories or destroy them. The continued cooperation of virologists in Australia will be sought to carry out this task. Acknowledgements We would like to thank the staff in Australian hospitals and reference laboratories for their cooperation in this effort to certify Australia as wild poliovirus free. Ras A. Australia's last reported case of wild poliovirus infection.