After years of vaccine campaigns and public health efforts, the world has reached a major milestone in the fight against polio. Two of the three polio viruses have now been eradicated, with only one left to go.

This breakthrough represents a huge step forward in global health, as polio has been one of the most devastating diseases of the past century.

The History of Polio

Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. It primarily affects children under the age of five, and can cause paralysis or death in severe cases.

The disease has been known to humanity for centuries, with epidemics often occurring in summer and fall.

In the 20th century, polio became one of the most feared diseases in the world. In the 1950s, before the widespread use of the vaccine, there were nearly half a million cases of polio in the world each year.

The disease reached epidemic proportions in some countries, with thousands of children being paralyzed or dying.

Polio Vaccine Campaigns

Thankfully, a polio vaccine was developed in the 1950s, and soon became widely available. Large-scale vaccination campaigns began in the 1960s, with the goal of eradicating the disease completely.

These campaigns, led by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), targeted high-risk areas in countries all over the world.

Thanks to these efforts, the number of polio cases worldwide has dropped by more than 99% since the 1980s. However, the disease has proven to be difficult to completely eradicate.

The remaining cases are concentrated in a few countries, primarily Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria.

The Eradication of Two Polio Viruses

In a major breakthrough, the WHO has announced that two of the three strains of poliovirus have been eradicated. The announcement comes after years of intense vaccination campaigns targeting the two strains, which are called type 2 and type 3.

The last case of type 2 poliovirus was reported in 1999, and the last case of type 3 was reported in 2012.

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This is a significant achievement, as it means that the only remaining strain of poliovirus is type 1. Type 1 is the most common strain, causing the vast majority of cases of polio in the world.

However, with the eradication of types 2 and 3, the fight against polio has become much more focused and targeted.

The Ongoing Fight Against Type 1 Poliovirus

The fight against type 1 poliovirus is far from over. While the number of cases has dropped significantly in recent years, there were still 22 cases reported in 2017 in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

These cases are concentrated in areas where vaccination campaigns are difficult to implement, due to political instability or lack of infrastructure.

The WHO and its partners are continuing to work tirelessly to eradicate polio once and for all. Comprehensive vaccination campaigns are ongoing in the remaining high-risk areas, with the goal of reaching every child with the polio vaccine.

The Challenges of Eradicating Polio

The fight against polio has been a long and difficult one, with many challenges along the way.

Vaccine hesitancy, where individuals refuse to get vaccinated due to misinformation or distrust of vaccine programs, has been a major obstacle in some regions. Political instability, conflict, and lack of infrastructure in some areas have also made it difficult to reach all children with the vaccine.

Despite these challenges, the eradication of two out of three polio viruses is a major victory for public health.

It shows that the efforts of global health organizations, governments, and communities around the world are making a real difference in the fight against a devastating disease.

Conclusion

Polio has been one of the deadliest diseases of the past century, causing untold suffering and death. However, the eradication of two out of three polio viruses represents a major breakthrough in the fight against the disease.

While the fight against type 1 poliovirus is not over, this achievement brings us closer to finally eradicating polio completely.