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Global Polio Eradication Initiative
PolioPlus: Keep our Promise to Eradicate Polio
Polio is more geographically focused than ever before, yet some
challenges remain. This page will provide an update on the status of
the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the role of Rotary
International in the effort, and what Rotarians can do to support
Rotary’s US$100 Million Challenge. We must keep our promise to
eradicate polio.
New Developments
New tools and tactics have led to a significant reduction of polio
cases in India. There are new commitments from country leaders, a
new Case for Completing Polio Eradication, and new opportunities for
providing the funds necessary to realize the dream of a polio-free
world.
New 'monovalent' polio vaccines
The use of the new monovalent vaccines developed in 2005 continues
in 2008. These vaccines were developed specifically to target polio
types 1 and 3, as type 2 polio has already been eradicated. The
monovalent vaccines are more effective in protecting a child from
polio. So with these and other new tools, where are we now?
Progress to date
When Rotary launched its PolioPlus program in 1985, there were over
350,000 cases of polio each year- 1,000 cases per day, in over 125
countries. Today, annual cases of polio paralysis are down to less
than 1500 a year—that’s a 99% reduction in the number of infections
worldwide. In 2008, only four countries remain polio endemic –
India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. This is the lowest number
in history and, more importantly, polio only circulates in limited
geographic areas in each country.
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Kim and Mitschele of the Hawley Club and Brian
Fulp of Honesdale Rotary (right) are pictured with
Rotary International President D.K. Lee and at
PETS 2008.
Read more about his presentation at
PETS here.
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POLIO CAN BE ERADICATED
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Impact – polio cases worldwide have
fallen by 99% since PolioPlus was started in 1985.
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Polio Surveillance – since 2004, new
surveillance standards and laboratory processes have ensured that
every country can detect every circulating poliovirus more rapidly
than ever.
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Outbreak Control – every re-infected
country has already stopped its outbreak or is on the verge of doing
so; since 2006, new international response guidelines stop outbreaks
faster than ever.
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Finishing Eradication – the poorest,
most war-torn and most crowded countries on earth have stopped
polio; new generation 'monovalent' polio vaccines provide even more
potent tools for the last 4 endemic countries which, in December
2006, adopted new and tailored approaches:
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India: monthly polio campaigns will
target the very young children who sustain polio;
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Nigeria: new Immunization Plus Days
will target the very high risk states where polio continues to
circulate;
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Afghanistan & Pakistan: synchronized
campaigns will target the populations moving across borders and
living in insecure areas where poliovirus survives.
Polio should be eradicated
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A humanitarian legacy: already, 5
million children are walking who would have been paralyzed and more
than 1.5 million lives have been saved. Switching to a 'control'
strategy, instead of finishing eradication, would condemn 10 million
children to polio over the next 40 years alone.
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A financial responsibility: once polio
is eradicated, the developing world can save over US$1 billion each
year. Polio eradication will also help secure the future earning
potential of children and reduce the
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