Polio-free in the Americas for 30 Years
The last detected case of polio in the Region of the Americas was in 1991. This year we celebrate 30 years without the disease! But what does 30 years without polio really mean?
Before polio vaccines existed, polio affected thousands of children around the world every year. Not so long ago it was common for a healthy child to suddenly be unable to walk, and those who were fortunate enough to recover from the disease were left with lifelong sequelae. Those less fortunate spent their days in hospital wards hooked up to huge machines — known as steel lungs — that allowed them to keep breathing. Many others lost their lives. Polio was endemic in all countries, and when there was an outbreak, communities had to close schools and other public spaces to protect the children.
Discovery of the polio vaccine in the mid-1950s changed the world forever. Once vaccinations began, the disease quickly started to wane. It was clear that vaccines worked, and that they could be used to prevent the disease. After several countries succeeded in controlling polio, leaders decided that eliminating polio permanently was possible, but only if it was done in a coordinated way in all countries of the Region. And so, in 1985, all the Region’s countries committed to eradicating polio. In 1988, the rest of the world joined this massive effort.
https://polioeradication.org/news-post/polio-free-in-the-americas-for-30-years/
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"...in 1985, all the Region’s countries committed to eradicating polio." They did it for the common good and it only took 6 years. Had it been today, with the misinformation on the internet, the eradication efforts would never have succeeded. Currently, there have been two cases of wild polio globally this year, both in January. Now to get a handle on the vaccine derived cases and we can finally be rid of this scourge forever.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Come on, where is your research from?
