We are THIS close to eradicating Polio

Posted by Julianna Rose 
on Oct 28, 2014
 

 

At a recent meeting commemorating World Polio Day (October 24), members of the Rotary Club of Ajijic learned about the similarities of the Polio virus and Ebola. Rotarian Santiago R. Hernandez, Medical Director and Owner of the Chapala Med Clinic, was the speaker, referring to the Ebola virus that is currently causing panic worldwide. Dr. Hernandez explained to fellow members and guests that the Polio virus is equally as dangerous to mankind. "In the United States, the 1952 Polio epidemic became the worst outbreak in the nation’s history. Of nearly 58,000 cases reported that year 3,145 died and 21,269 were left with mild to disabling paralysis. Paralysis occurs in only about 0.1 percent of all poliovirus infections, but such an infection can lead to respiratory depression and for those old enough to remember can bring to memory the images of children laying in their IRON LUNGS. The Polio virus shares many similarities with other viral infections during its infectious course. Poliovirus is transmitted by fecal-hand-oral contamination. During epidemics, it also may be transmitted by pharyngeal spread. Ninety to 95 percent of poliovirus infections are asymptomatic. There is NO TREATMENT or CURE for Polio, not even an experimental one as is the case for Ebola. However, vaccination against Polio has had a profound effect. The last case of endemic, naturally occurring poliomyelitis in the United States was reported in 1979. The last such case in the Western Hemisphere was reported in Peru in 1991. The only known wild poliovirus infections in the Americas after 1991 were imported cases. The basis of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, initiated in 1988, has been immunization and surveillance. The results have been dramatic. In 1988, Polio was endemic in more than 125 countries, and paralyzed at least 350,000 children per year. By 2011, the number of cases of acute flaccid paralysis due to poliovirus was reduced to 650. By 2012, there remained only three countries in which endemic wild poliovirus transmission had never been interrupted: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Despite this progress, new outbreaks of Polio continue to occur, and the World Health Organization declared in May 2014 that the spread of Polio had become a global public health emergency, posing a major threat to the global eradication effort. These outbreaks highlight the risk for wild poliovirus reintroduction due to a combination of international travel, health systems with limited resources, areas of low oral poliovirus coverage, and delays in recognizing and testing cases of acute flaccid paralysis. These risks are exacerbated in areas of military, political, and social conflict, such as Syria and Pakistan. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative partnership was launched in 1998 and is led by five organizations: the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United Nations Children’s Fund, Rotary International, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The partnership includes numerous governmental and non-governmental donors and the ministries of health of all affected nations who plan and carry out the program’s initiatives at an overall cost that exceeds $1 billion per year. The global eradication program is based on four strategies: routine infant immunization, supplementary immunization campaigns in many middle- and low-income countries, surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), and mop-up campaigns." Dr. Hernandez: "I believe that, although Polio may not cause the same dramatic signs and symptoms in the same rapid manner as a hemorrhagic virus such as Ebola, it is equally if not more important that we address its eradication in a very pro-active manner. “WE ARE THIS CLOSE!" Polio still cripples thousands of children around the world. To help wipe this disease off the face of the earth forever, the Rotary Club of Ajijic is holding its 5th Annual Fundraising Dinner on November 8 from 5.00 - 8.00 p.m. at Roberto's Restaurant, proceeds of which go to the Rotary Foundation Stop Polio Fund and will be matched 2 for 1 by the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation. For tickets and information contact Anita Hocker at ganitahocker@gmail.com or call 376 766-2410.

At a recent meeting commemorating World Polio Day (October 24), members of the Rotary Club of Ajijic learned about the similarities of the Polio virus and Ebola. (Click to read his presentation on the web.)

 

Rotarian Santiago R. Hernandez, Medical Director and Owner of the Chapala Med Clinic, was the speaker, referring to the Ebola virus that is currently causing panic worldwide. Dr. Hernandez explained to fellow members and guests that the Polio virus is equally as dangerous to mankind.

 

"In the United States, the 1952 Polio epidemic became the worst outbreak in the nation’s history. Of nearly 58,000 cases reported that year 3,145 died and 21,269 were left with mild to disabling paralysis. Paralysis occurs in only about 0.1 percent of all poliovirus infections, but such an infection can lead to respiratory depression and for those old enough to remember can bring to memory the images of children laying in their IRON LUNGS.

 

The Polio virus shares many similarities with other viral infections during its infectious course. Poliovirus is transmitted by fecal-hand-oral contamination. During epidemics, it also may be transmitted by pharyngeal spread. Ninety to 95 percent of poliovirus infections are asymptomatic. There is NO TREATMENT or CURE for Polio, not even an experimental one as is the case for Ebola.

 

However, vaccination against Polio has had a profound effect. The last case of endemic, naturally occurring poliomyelitis in the United States was reported in 1979. The last such case in the Western Hemisphere was reported in Peru in 1991. The only known wild poliovirus infections in the Americas after 1991 were imported cases.

 

The basis of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, initiated in 1988, has been immunization and surveillance. The results have been dramatic. In 1988, Polio was endemic in more than 125 countries, and paralyzed at least 350,000 children per year. By 2011, the number of cases of acute flaccid paralysis due to poliovirus was reduced to 650. By 2012, there remained only three countries in which endemic wild poliovirus transmission had never been interrupted: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

 

Despite this progress, new outbreaks of Polio continue to occur, and the World Health Organization declared in May 2014 that the spread of Polio had become a global public health emergency, posing a major threat to the global eradication effort. These outbreaks highlight the risk for wild poliovirus reintroduction due to a combination of international travel, health systems with limited resources, areas of low oral poliovirus coverage, and delays in recognizing and testing cases of acute flaccid paralysis. These risks are exacerbated in areas of military, political, and social conflict, such as Syria and Pakistan.

 

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative partnership was launched in 1998 and is led by five organizations: the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United Nations Children’s Fund, Rotary International, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The partnership includes numerous governmental and non-governmental donors and the ministries of health of all affected nations who plan and carry out the program’s initiatives at an overall cost that exceeds $1 billion per year. The global eradication program is based on four strategies: routine infant immunization, supplementary immunization campaigns in many middle- and low-income countries, surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), and mop-up campaigns."

 

Dr. Hernandez: "I believe that, although Polio may not cause the same dramatic signs and symptoms in the same rapid manner as a hemorrhagic virus such as Ebola, it is equally if not more important that we address its eradication in a very pro-active manner.  “WE ARE THIS CLOSE!"

 

Polio cripples thousands of children around the world. To help wipe this disease off the face of the earth forever, the Rotary Club of Ajijic is holding its 5th Annual Fundraising Dinner on November 8 from 5.00 - 8.00 p.m. at Roberto's Restaurant, proceeds of which go to the Rotary Foundation Stop Polio Fund and will be matched 2 for 1 by the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation. For tickets and information contact Anita Hocker at ganitahocker@gmail.com or call 376 766-2410.