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World Health Organization (WHO) has announced for first time that South-East Asia is now free from polio. WHO certified 11 countries as being clear of killer disease. WHO website said: "This is fourth of six WHO regions to be certified, marking important step towards global eradication of polio – highly infectious virus that attacks nervous system and can cause total paralysis in matter of hours. With this step, 80 per cent of world's population now lives in certified polio-free regions." One of newly-certified countries is India, which as recently as 2009, was home to almost 50 per cent of world's polio cases. India hasn't seen single polio case for last three years.

Polio is currently incurable disease. It leads to paralysis of limbs and eventually kills anyone who contracts it. Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director for WHO, said: "This is momentous victory for millions of health workers who have worked with governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society and international partners to eradicate polio from region." She added: "It is sign of what we can bequeath our children when we work together." Dr Singh also cautioned against becoming complacent in fight against disease. She said: "Until polio is globally eradicated, all countries are at risk and region's polio-free status remains fragile."