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Polio

The Medical Miracle

By SANTHOSH VASUPublished about a year ago 4 min read
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Photo Credit : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Image Library (PHIL)

Origin and Founder:

Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious viral disease that mainly affects children under the age of 5. The disease was first identified in 1789, but it was not until the 20th century that polio became a significant public health issue. Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin are credited with developing vaccines against the disease, which helped to eradicate it from much of the world.

Founder's Struggles and Achievements:

In the early 20th century, polio epidemics were a regular occurrence, and the disease caused significant suffering and death. Jonas Salk, a medical researcher, and virologist, devoted much of his career to developing a vaccine against the disease. After years of research, Salk developed the first successful polio vaccine, which was made available to the public in 1955. The vaccine was a breakthrough in public health and is credited with reducing the incidence of polio dramatically.

Albert Sabin, another medical researcher, developed an oral polio vaccine that was also highly effective in preventing the disease. The two vaccines together helped to eradicate polio from much of the world and save millions of lives.

Recent News and True Information:

Polio has been eradicated in much of the world thanks to the widespread use of vaccines. However, the disease still persists in a few countries, including Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. In recent years, there have been concerns about the resurgence of polio in some regions due to vaccine hesitancy and a lack of access to vaccines.

The World Health Organization and other global health organizations are working to address these challenges and ensure that all children have access to vaccines that can protect them from polio. In 2020, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative launched a new strategy that aims to eliminate polio from the remaining countries where it is still endemic.

Reasons behind it:

The persistence of polio in some countries is due to a combination of factors, including a lack of access to vaccines, vaccine hesitancy, and conflict and insecurity that make it difficult to deliver vaccines to children. In some cases, misinformation about vaccines has also contributed to vaccine hesitancy and a lack of trust in public health interventions.

The History of Polio and its Impact on Public Health

Polio has been known to humans for thousands of years, but it was not until the early 20th century that the disease became a significant public health concern. Polio epidemics swept across the world, causing widespread fear and panic. The development of the polio vaccine in the 1950s was a major breakthrough in public health and helped to reduce the incidence of the disease dramatically.

The Efforts to Develop a Polio Vaccine

The development of the polio vaccine was a collaborative effort that involved medical researchers and public health officials from around the world. Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin are credited with developing the two vaccines that were instrumental in the fight against polio.

The Success of the Polio Vaccine and Its Impact on Public Health

The widespread use of polio vaccines has had a tremendous impact on public health, helping to reduce the incidence of the disease by more than 99%. The success of the polio vaccine has also inspired efforts to develop vaccines for other diseases, such as measles, mumps, and rubella.

The Challenges of Eradicating Polio Worldwide

Despite the success of the polio vaccine, the disease still persists in a few countries, including Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. The challenges of eradicating polio worldwide include vaccine hesitancy, a lack of access to vaccines, and conflict and insecurity that make it difficult to deliver vaccines to children.

Recent Developments in the Fight Against Polio

In recent years, there have been concerns about the resurgence of polio in some regions due to vaccine hesitancy and a lack of access to vaccines. However, global health organizations are working to address these challenges and ensure that all children have access to vaccines that can protect them from polio.

The Importance of Vaccines in Preventing Polio and Other Diseases

Vaccines are a critical tool in the fight against polio and other infectious diseases. The widespread use of vaccines has helped to reduce the incidence of many diseases, and efforts to improve vaccine access and uptake can help to prevent outbreaks and save lives.

Live Example and News:

In 2020, Nigeria celebrated four years without a case of wild polio virus, a significant milestone in the country's efforts to eradicate the disease. However, there have been concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on polio vaccination campaigns, and there have been reports of a resurgence of the disease in some areas.

How it Became Solved:

The fight against polio is ongoing, but significant progress has been made in the last few decades. The widespread use of vaccines has helped to reduce the incidence of the disease dramatically, and there have been several successful vaccination campaigns that have helped to eliminate polio from much of the world.

In conclusion, Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that has had a significant impact on public health throughout history. Thanks to the efforts of medical researchers and global health organizations, the disease has been eradicated in much of the world. However, the fight against polio is ongoing, and there is still work to be done to ensure that all children

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