Control of vaccine preventable diseases, particularly polio and measles, remains a challenge in Somalia due to low immunization coverage.
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease that mainly affects young children.
The polio outbreak, confirmed in Somalia in May 2013, after six years of the country being polio-free, is a harsh reminder of the threat of a large unvaccinated population.
The outbreak paralyzed 194 children in 2013 and only 5 children in 2014, thanks to partners and donors that supported intensified polio outbreak vaccination campaigns
