Lagos (AFP) - The World Health Organization on Friday took Nigeria off the list of polio-endemic countries, hailing a "historic achievement" more than a year after the last recorded case of the disease in Africa's most populous nation.
The announcement, made in a statement and at a meeting of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in New York, leaves just two countries -- Pakistan and Afghanistan -- on the list.
In declaring Nigeria "no longer polio endemic", the WHO said: "This is the first time that Nigeria has interrupted transmission of wild (naturally occurring) poliovirus, bringing the country and the African region closer than ever to being certified polio-free."
Countries have to go at least 12 months without a case before they can be considered for removal from the list while polio-free status comes after three years without a case.
