20-08-2023

Sadly, it looks like another child has caught polio in Afghanistan, making it 7 children whose lives have been blighted by this terrible disease.

Wild Polio Virus Summary:

The number of wild polio cases for 2023 as of Nov 26, 2023 is 8.
The total number of wild polio cases in 2022 were 30. There were 2 in Afghanistan, 20 in Pakistan, and 8 in Mozambique.
The total number of wild polio cases in 2021 were 6. There was 1 in Pakistan, 1 in Malawi, and 4 in Afghanistan.
The total number of wild polio cases in 2020 were 140. There were 84 in Pakistan and 56 in Afghanistan.

PolioPlus is Rotary's most recognised program
The goal is to eradicate polio. Rotary has been working to this end for over 30 years, and our goal of ridding the earth of this disease is in sight. We started in 1979 with vaccinations for 6 million children in the Philippines. In 2021, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic.

Polio is transmitted through contaminated water or food, or contact with an infected person. Many people who are infected with the poliovirus don't become sick and have no symptoms. However, those who do become ill develop paralysis, which can sometimes be fatal. Treatment includes bed rest, pain relievers and portable ventilators.

Polio can lead to permanent paralysis of the arms and legs and can be fatal due to paralysis in the muscles used to breathe or swallow. Most people infected with the virus do not have any symptoms, though some will have flu-like symptoms, like sore throat, fever, tiredness, nausea and stomach pain

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES A NEW WEAPON AGAINST POLIO

ENDING POLIO FOREVER

Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for over 40 years, and our goal of ridding the earth of this disease is in sight. We started in 1979 with vaccinations for 6 million children in the Philippines. Today only Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries where Polio remains endemic.

Every year, through our funding partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary commits $150 million to the global effort to eradicate polio. We have contributed more than $2.6 billion and countless volunteer hours to end polio forever. Together with our partners, we engage communities everywhere to encourage high vaccination rates, immunizing over 400 million children annually. More than 20 million people are walking today who otherwise would have been paralyzed because of our efforts and those of our partners in the GPEI.

POLIO PLUS - ERADICATE POLIO FROM PLANET EARTH!

In 1979, the world witnessed an alarming number of polio cases, with approximately 400,000 reported globally. However, thanks to tireless efforts and strategic immunisation campaigns led by organisations like Rotary International, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), and countless healthcare professionals, significant strides have been made towards eradicating this devastating disease. As of today, we have achieved remarkable progress in reducing polio cases worldwide by more than 99%, with only two endemic countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan) still reporting sporadic outbreaks (only 8 so far in 2023). These statistics highlight the collective effort to combat polio through routine vaccination programs and widespread public awareness. The work isn't done yet - maintaining high immunisation coverage and surveillance systems remains crucial until every last case of wild poliovirus is eradicated from our planet. Nonetheless, these remarkable numbers exemplify the tremendous impact that global collaboration can have in combating one of humanity's biggest health challenges.