| Title |
WORLD POLIO DAY |
|
Date-wise Events |
October 24 |
|
Description |
- The disease was very well publicized during the polio
epidemics of the 1950s, with extensive media coverage of any
scientific advancements that might lead to a cure.
- Thus, the scientists working on polio became some of the
most famous of the century. Fifteen scientists and two
laymen who made important contributions to the knowledge and
treatment of poliomyelitis are honoured by the Polio Hall of
Fame, which was dedicated in 1957 at the Roosevelt Warm
Springs Institute for Rehabilitation in Warm Springs,
Georgia, US.
- In 2008 four organizations (Rotary International, the
World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and UNICEF) were added to the Hall of Fame.
- World Polio Day (24 October) was established by Rotary
International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who
led the first team to develop a vaccine against
poliomyelitis.
- Use of this inactivated poliovirus vaccine and
subsequent widespread use of the oral poliovirus vaccine
developed by Albert Sabin led to establishment of the Global
Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988.
- Since then, GPEI has reduced polio worldwide by 99%.
- However, in 2012, transmission of indigenous wild
poliovirus continued in three countries: Nigeria,
Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
- In April 2012, the World Health Assembly declared the
completion of polio eradication a programmatic emergency for
global public health.
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