India

India is very optimistic it will have eliminated polio by 2008, its health minister said June 6. Anbumani Ramadoss said only 60 Indians were reported to have developed the paralyzing and sometimes deadly disease so far this year. An epidemic infected 676 Indians in 2006, a tenfold rise on 2005. The most contagious strain of polio appeared to be on the wane for the first time in India. (Reuters)