<div><p>Polio has re-emerged in several African countries where it had been eradicated, the World Health Organisation said Monday at the start of a conference on child immunisation in Zimbabwe.</p><p>"Several polio-free countries have suffered setback in polio eradication," WHO Africa regional director Luis Gomes Sambo told the 150 delegates.</p><p>"The number of countries with polio outbreaks following wild poliovirus importations has increased from 13 to 19 in 2009," he said at the conference, which runs through Thursday.</p><p>Sambo said the conference aims to find ways to reduce child mortality and to urge governments to increase funding for child vaccines.</p><p>"We need increased funding to improve the capacity of governments to budget vaccines," Sambo said.</p><p>Angola, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria are among the countries that have seen an increase in polio, due mainly to a lack of immunisations, WHO said.</p><p>About 74 percent of Africa's children receive routine vaccinations, but WHO says coverage of at least 85 percent is needed.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=65409818&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

Copyright 2009  <a href="http://www.afp.com/english/links/?pid=copyright">AFP Global Edition</a></div></div>