Polio 'to die out by end of year'

[Oceans11]

Not mentioned however, is the emergence of AIDS as a result of the Polio immunisation programme.
(Africas greatest pandemic since the Black Death)

http://www.cbc.ca/witness/originsofaids/hooper.html
http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/dissent/documents/AIDS/rs/SMH.html
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Polio 'to die out by end of year'

By Richard Black
BBC science correspondent

The campaign needs extra funding to keep going
The World Health Organisation says it is optimistic that polio can be eradicated globally by the end of 2004.
The claim follows the resumption of vaccination campaigns in parts of northern Nigeria.

However the WHO says significant obstacles remain, not least a shortage of funds.

Vaccination campaigns resumed at the weekend in the Nigerian states of Kaduna and Kano, after the programme had been suspended in 2003.

Vaccinations were halted after local Muslim leaders claimed the vaccines were unsafe - and during the suspension the disease spread from Nigeria to other African nations.

Between now and the end of the year, the WHO aims to run national immunisation projects in 22 African countries.


Kano residents give their views on the polio campaign


In pictures

Campaigns are also continuing in the other endemic region, South Asia, with the aim of eradicating the virus globally by the end of the year.

However the initiative faces a funding shortfall running to several hundred million dollars, and unless further more money is donated quickly, some of these campaigns may not take place.

This is a critical period for the polio eradication initiative, which commenced in 1988.

Spectacular successes were achieved rapidly in the early years, but it is proving much more difficult to finish the job.

However, if it is not finished, polio will re-emerge as a major global disease.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3533618.stm

 

[bblight]

If WHO is correct and polio does die out, then good riddance to polio - it was a crippling and maiming disease that was epidemic in the United States as recently as the 50's, and has continued to be a curse in many parts of the world. This is one UN program I would support wholeheartedly.

Polio struck everyone, everywhere, regardless of lifestyle and other such factors. Dr Saulk was a true hero who changed the world for the better.

 

[bblight]

As an after thought - When I was in Vietnam in '66, there was an outbreak of the Plague in several nearby villages.
This is the same Black Plague that devastated Europe back in the 1500's.

Many diseases that we never hear about anymore, and might think of as dead, are just on vacation in 3rd world countries, waiting for the right time to visit the rest of us!

A lot of us look at such "modern" diseases as HIV (AIDS) and Heptitus are lifestyle diseases, and there's not much to worry about. Many of the "older" diseases know no social or economic barriers, so it's in all of our interests to support any programs that can help wipe out a disease.

 

[Marco]

Not to turn this too political, but in case you guys missed it....

Bush made an amendment to the constitution banning polio, and as the title of the thread implies, all polio agents will comply by the end of the year.