The World Health Organization has removed India from the list of polio endemic countries.

India's health minister says WHO removed India from the list Saturday after the country passed one year without registering any new polio cases.

India must go another two years without new cases to be declared polio-free.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India's success in conquering the crippling disease was due in large part to the 230,000 volunteers who traveled across the country to vaccinate children. He said India's accomplishment shows “teamwork pays.”

India's efforts to eradicate polio leaves only three polio endemic countries — Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.