Swiss researchers including ICCIDD executive director Michael B. Zimmermann, MD have issued a new global assessment of the progress of public health efforts to virtually eradicate Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD). Published February 29 in advance of the April issue of The Journal of Nutrition, using data collected by ICCIDD added to data in the existing World Health Organization Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System Micronutrients Database, the survey covers more than 96% of the world's population. Included are new data from 58 countries. The review recorded "major progress" with the number of iodine-deficient countries declining from 54 in 2003 to 32 in 2011 while iodine-sufficient countries increased from 67 to 105. Unfortunately, nearly 30% of the world's 241 million school-age children remain iodine-deficient.