In the News--polio outbreak

Polio, a contagious disease which causes paralysis, is occurring in Syria.  During this most recent outbreak 38 children have become ill due to polio.  Other countries dealing with polio outbreaks are Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria (Africa) and Iraq.  Polio is a contagious (spread from person to person) viral disease which can cause paralysis, difficulty breathing and death.  There’s no cure for polio once a person has it. 

Before the vaccine program began, polio crippled 35,000 Americans every year.  However, during the 1940s and 50s, the polio vaccine program became a huge success.  Dr Jonas Salk was head of the research team working on a polio vaccine.  By 1955 over four million people had received the vaccine.  In the same timeframe, Dr Albert Sabin was working on and perfected an oral form of the polio vaccine.  Sabin’s vaccine introduced in 1957, added to a lump of sugar, made the polio vaccine cheaper and easier to give to people.  By 1979, America became polio free. 

The experts believe the current strain of the polio virus comes from Pakistan.  In 2011 Pakistan had 198 confirmed cases and began vaccinating their people.  The numbers of people infected with the polio virus decreased in 2012, but vaccination efforts aren’t always welcomed by militants in the area.  According to the news article, the militants mistrust the UN and government-led vaccination program and claim the programs are meant to sterilize Muslim children.  http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/11/13/21-nations-join-together-to-fight-polio-emergency/  

 

Since polio was confirmed last October, more than 22 million children in 7 countries have been vaccinated for polio.  http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/mar/28/un-polio-syria-iraq-most-challenging-history