China has vowed to strengthen vaccination and surveillance of poliomyelitis to maintain its nationwide elimination of the disease since 2000.

The poliomyelitis virus still exists in the world, causing epidemics in some countries and regions. Therefore China must be on alert, said Qi Xiaoqiu, director of the Department of Disease Control under the Ministry of Health, on Tuesday.

According to latest statistics, about 20 countries reported a total of 1,926 poliomyelitis cases at the end of 2005, said Yu Jingjin, deputy director of the department, at a national conference on immunization policy for 2006.

Nigeria, Yemen and Indonesia were the top three countries reporting poliomyelitis. China's neighbors India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal also witnessed the epidemic, according to the statistics released by the ministry.

"Eliminating poliomyelitis is a solemn promise made by the Chinese government to the international society," said Qi at the conference.

Local governments should further strengthen vaccination and surveillance of poliomyelitis, he said, adding that investigation and stock of the poliomyelitis virus is a key measure to ensuring biological safety and preventing biological terrorist activities.

This year, local health authorities must check the poliomyelitis virus in stock in laboratories and register it in the national database, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2006)