In this month’s Bulletin

The authors calculate the incidence of acute flaccid paralysis caused by poliomyelitis in the State of Victoria, Australia, using two sources: the routine surveillance system, and hospital records. The former reported 14 cases, the latter 19 different ones. Basing calculations on data from both sources by using the capture–recapture method, they conclude that 40 cases would have occurred during the period under review (1998–2000). The results indicate the insensitivity of the existing surveillance system and give an idea of feasible notification rates for other states and countries in which poliovirus has been eradicated.