World Polio Day

What Is World Polio Day?

October 24th is "World Polio Day." The day is associated with Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the polio vaccine, and organizations working to eradicate polio around the world use it to call for cooperation toward a polio-free world. Around this date, Rotary International and Rotary clubs in many regions hold events aimed at ending polio.

The Fight Against the Disease Once Called "Infantile Paralysis"

Polio (acute poliomyelitis) is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It mainly affects children under 5, and in Japan it was also called "infantile paralysis."

• Symptoms: Most infections cause no symptoms or cold-like symptoms, but about 1 in 1,000 leads to paralysis
• Treatment: There is still no cure for polio paralysis, so prevention through vaccination is essential
• Global eradication: The Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched after a 1988 World Health Assembly resolution
• Remaining countries: The number of polio-endemic countries fell from 125 in 1988 to just two: Pakistan and Afghanistan

Japan Brought Outbreaks Under Control with Vaccines

Japan also saw a major polio outbreak in 1960, but cases dropped sharply after live vaccines were introduced, and no cases caused by wild poliovirus have been reported since 1981. Polio is said to be on track to become only the second infectious disease in human history, after smallpox, to be eradicated.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Check your or your children's vaccination records in a maternal and child health handbook
• Learn about organizations working to eradicate polio
• Look into how vaccines have changed the history of infectious diseases
• Find out about fundraisers and campaigns supporting polio eradication

One Step Away from Eradication

Polio, once feared around the world, is now just one step from eradication thanks to vaccines and international cooperation. October 24th is a day to recognize the efforts of people who have taken on infectious diseases.