G8 vows to eradicate polio by 2005

SAVANNAH, Ga., June 8 (UPI) -- The Group of Eight nations has set 2005 as the target date to eradicate polio, a U.S. official said Tuesday.

The disease remains endemic in six countries and has re-emerged in nine more. Global efforts to fight the disease are headed by the Polio Eradication Initiative, which is made up of the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and Rotary International.

"The G8 will work to close the 2004 funding gap for the ... (initiative) and commit to resolve the 2005 gap by the 2005 G8 summit," said Jim Wilkinson, deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for communications.

The United States currently contributes 28.2 percent of the $3.48 billion that goes into fighting the disease.

The G8 nations -- the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and Russia -- are scheduled to meet through Thursday.