HONG KONG, Jan. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Hong Kong has maintained impressive high-quality immunization services and certification standards on surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis, despite extraordinary demands put on the health services system by the SARS outbreak.

    This is one of the main conclusions of the 9th Meeting of the Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication in the Western Pacific, held at the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office in Manila last month.

    In a letter to Chairman Prof. Leung Nai-kong of the Hong Kong National Committee for the Certification of Wild Poliovirus Eradication, the commission's head Anthony Adams commended the committee for its "continuous involvement in and support for activities to sustain poliomyelitis-free status."

    Hong Kong's Director of Health Lam Ping-yan said Thursday the success was attributed to efforts by healthcare professionals and parents, as well as WHO's technical support and other partner agencies.

    Poliomyelitis was a public health problem causing significant morbidity and mortality in the 1950s and 1960s. With the introduction of the oral polio vaccine in 1963, the number of cases has dropped dramatically.

    The last case of poliomyelitis due to wild type polio virus wasreported in 1983 and the last case of vaccine-associated poliomyelitis occurred in 1995.

    To meet the WHO's criteria for documentation of polio-free status, the committee was established in 1996 to oversee related activities.

    As acute poliomyelitis can present with symptoms of acute flaccid paralysis, a highly sensitive surveillance system has beenset up to detect, report and investigate all cases of acute flaccid paralysis according to WHO recommendations.

    Lam said the government, working closely with other partners, will continue commitment to polio eradication through surveillanceof acute flaccid paralysis, high immunization coverage through polio vaccination and effective laboratory support services.

    Hong Kong is included in the 37 countries and regions of the WHO's Western Pacific Region in which the transmission of indigenous wild poliovirus has been successfully interrupted since2000. Enditem