World Polio Day

What is polio?

poliomyelitis or commonly known as polio is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus. Most people who get infected with poliovirus will not have any visible symptoms while some may have flu-like symptoms but, the dengrous situation is this virus spreads from person to person which infects a person’s spinal cord and causes paralysis. So the person can't move some parts of their body properly. Most of the time this virus can also cause meningitis which means infection of the covering of the spinal cord and/or brain. Which will lead that person to suffer for their lifetime.

Where did this polio come from?

The simplest answer is No one knows. Even though Major polio epidemics were unknown before the 20th century when localized paralytic polio epidemics began to appear in Europe and the United States around 1900. The first report of multiple polio cases was published in 1843 and described an 1841 outbreak in Louisiana. But the history of this virus spread throughout our history as the ancient Egyptian paintings represent children walking with canes at a young age which may probably be poliomyelitis.

There were wild theories that the virus spread from imported bananas or stray cats But still, we don't know how polio was transmitted or what caused it.

The polio epidemic?

The epidemic might be a pretty common word for us nowadays because we are passing through a global pandemic however it's never been a pleasant experience even in the past or today. After the outbreak in Louisiana A fifty-year gap occurs before the next U.S. in Boston report which was a cluster of 26 cases in 1893. In 1916 US announced an official announcement of the existence of an epidemic polio infection on June 17. In that year, there were over 27,000 cases and more than 6,000 deaths due to polio in the United State alone.

Treatments, Cure?

In the early days, there was no sign of the cure of this disease so the medical treatments were also not proven or authorized well which led to odd and dangerous treatment methods such as nerve grafting, tendon lengthening, etc. The iron lung was the first invention against polio. It's was powered by an electric motor attached to two vacuum cleaners, and worked by changing the pressure inside the machine. When the pressure is lowered, the chest cavity expands, trying to fill this partial vacuum. When the pressure is raised the chest cavity contracts. However, even iron lung saved thousands of lives during those epidemic years it was a very large and expensive treatment.

But after thousands of dark nights finally, some golden rays appear. On March 26,1956 American medical researcher, Dr. Jonas Salk announced that he has successfully tested a vaccine against poliomyelitis.

Rotary & Polio?

In 1988 Rotary and its partners decided to form the GEPI, There was 350,000 polio in 125 countries every year and today we have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the just two countries continue to report cases of wild poliovirus today.

Rotary has committed to raising 50$ million per year for polio education. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to match that 2 to 1, for a total commitment of 150$ million each year. Rotary has also a growing list of public figures and celebrities who support our fight against polio.

Rotary and its partners nearly 19.4 Million people who would otherwise have been paralyzed are walking, and more than 1.5 million people are alive who would otherwise have died.

World polio day

Every year we witness 24th October as World Polio Day across the globe. This day is celebrated to raise awareness for polio vaccination and the eradication of polio.

So today The Rotary District 3220 organized " Polio Plus Day Celebration Car Rally", a polio public awareness program under the theme of "END POLIO NOW GLOBALLY".So as Rotaract Mid Citians we were also there to lend our hands for this great job.

"Don't let a disease like Polio, steal the life of your children."

Polio is a fatal infection that leads to a crippling disease. World Polio Day is the best day to spread awareness about polio and eradicate this disease from the root.

"Together let us make this world polio-free for the generations to come.''