Polio is almost eliminated
By bgerig
@bgerig (1258)
United States
January 29, 2007 6:51pm CST
Are you aware that there are supposedly less than 1000 cases of Polio today on this earth?
Because of the hard work of Rotary International and the United Nations, polio has been essentially conquered in the western hemisphere. There continue to be some cases in a couple countries in Africa and possible in southeast Asia. This is, indeed, a disease which may be completely eradicated during our lifetime.
3 people like this
6 responses
@maribea (2366)
• Italy
4 Mar 07
you're right...polio is quite under control and as a neurologist I am seeing less patients with post polio syndrome, that is a disease that you can have if you had once polio...vaccination policies are fundamental and we have to keep our attention high on this problem...think about measles...it is still a great problem in Africa and there are thousands and thousands of babies suffering from great problems or even dieing because of measles...and the vaccination can do a great work...hope that United Nations and each kind of organisations are going to provide...a vaccination can save several of lives and babies are our future
1 person likes this
@hellsangelus (670)
• Oman
2 Mar 07
Thats really great. Maybe like small pox our children wont even know what it was like. Ive seen some people who have been struck by polio when they were young and its really sad to see them struggling to walk. It will be wonderful if polio becomes a thing of the past.
@bgerig (1258)
• United States
2 Mar 07
That's right. And it is very close, thanks to Rotary International and the United Nations. But, unfortunately, it is the last cases which are the hardest to eradicate. And some of the country leaders (of some African nations, and in southeast Asia) fear the vacinations are evil plots to hurt their children.
Thank you for commenting on my discussion.
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
5 Mar 07
Wow thats great news. Hopefully it will be eleminated all together.
@bgerig (1258)
• United States
5 Mar 07
Unfortunately, it is the last few that will be the hardest to eradicate. They are in countries which do not trust medicine as we know it it, nor do they trust even the UN or other neighboring nations. But I am confident it will get done in our lifetime!
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85421)
• United States
2 Mar 07
I knew it was eliminated from the United States and other stabilized countries such as France, England, and more, but I didn't know that is was so "scarce" in the rest of the countries. I imagine Africa is the hardest place to eradicate polio, since so many people still operate under tribal rules, and have superstitions, as well as they don't have the access.
@catbvq (364)
• Philippines
30 Apr 07
Yes, I am aware that polio was almost eliminated or prevented from being spread nowadays, but do you know that there are a lot of victims still alive today, those born in the early 60's, 70's and perhaps late 50's and the concentration of these marginalized sector is still rampant in Africa and Asia and there as several cases still in well-developed countries. What humankind or science should also strive is to find a cure for those afflicted with it.
