Africa to be declared wild polio free

The Africa Regional Certification Commission says Africa would soon be declared free from wild polio.

Polio usually affects children under five, sometimes leading to irreversible paralysis.

Death can occur when breathing muscles are affected by the paralysis.

There is no cure but the polio vaccine protects children for life.

The disease is now only found in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Nigeria is the last African country to be declared free from the disease, having accounted for more than half of all global cases less than a decade ago.