LAGOS, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization on Thursday said there is an urgent need to interrupt wild polio virus in Northern Nigeria, sustain optimum involvement of communities in high-risk areas, and conduct independent monitoring and evaluation of immunization activities at all levels.

    This key recommendation is contained in a report to be discussed on Thursday at the 58th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Yaounde, Cameroon.

    Nigeria is the only African country where polio is still endemic, according to WHO website with African Press Organization.

    The report said although the number of wild poliovirus cases in Nigeria declined by 75 percent from 1,125 cases in 2006 to 279 in 2007, and in the African Region from 1,192 to 367 during the same period, endemic transmission continues to be restricted to northern Nigeria.

    It said to ensure impact of interventions, innovative approaches to improve acceptability, community participation and ownership will have to be intensified.

    Five states in Nigeria have achieved at least 80 percent oral polio vaccine coverage compared to none at the end of 2006.

    This increase in immunity is reflected in declining poliovirus transmission in high-burden states of the West African country.