Immune status to polioviruses in the child population of Romania between 2002-2005 as indicated by serological investigation in cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and facial paralysis (FP) and its use as a "national reference value" to evaluate the vaccination coverage in particular groups of healthy children.

Although the European region is polio free since 2002, the risk of importation from endemic regions remains present and a high level of population immunity must be maintained. In Romania during the period 2002-2005, 101 FP cases, 91 AFP cases and 29 healthy contacts (living in groups with low social and sanitary status, relatively low vaccination coverage named "at risk") could have been investigated serologically. Antibody prevalences for poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 were: 97.2%, 98% and 81.2% for FP cases; 96.7%, 94.5% and 85.7% for AFP cases, and 85.7%, 82.1% and 53% for the group of healthy children at risk. The risk of the emergence and spread of cVDPVs remains present especially in "at risk" groups with the gaps in immunity, even in countries where indigenous wild polioviruses have already been eradicated.