Africa has been announced free from wild polio by the independent body, the Africa Regional Certification Commission.
Polio usually impacts children who are less than five years old, sometimes leading to irreversible paralysis. Death can happen when breathing muscles are impacted.
In 1995, thousands of children in Africa were paralyzed by the virus.
Wild Polio is now only found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. There is no cure but the polio vaccine protects children for life.
Nigeria is the last African country to be announced as wild polio free country, having accounted for more than half of all global cases less than a decade ago.
