Polio in US.

 Report of Polio Detection in United States - a report from our Zone 8 Polio Coordinator Murray Verso
We are sometimes asked why do we still need to support polio eradication?
Last week the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was informed of a case of paralytic polio in New York state.  This news is an opportunity to address this question.

First, let’s see what’s up in New York:
  • The victim was never vaccinated
  • The victim lives in an area with VERY low vaccination rates.
  • The victim is not contagious
  • This same area had a severe measles outbreak a few years ago with 312 cases of measles. 
  • The polio virus strain is NOT wild polio.
  • The case is type 2 Vaccine Derived Polio Virus (VDPV). 
  • Until wild polio is totally eradicated, we run the risk of vaccine derived polio cases in areas of low vaccination rates where a  weakened virus in the oral vaccine is still in use.
  • The novel oral polio vaccine (OPV) , now being introduced,  lessens the risk of polio being caused by  older forms of OPV.
So, why do we still need to fund raise for the total defeat of polio?
  • Any form of poliovirus anywhere is a threat to children everywhere.
  • It is critical that the GPEI Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026 is fully resourced and fully implemented everywhere, to ensure a world free of all forms of poliovirus.  
  • Our partners and Rotary International immunize approximately 460 Million children annually.
  • We monitor polio-sustaining areas and conditions in about 200 countries.
  • Our team ensures outbreaks are identified and contained as quickly as humanly possible.
We call on every single Rotarian to take action and be a part of the fight to end polio, helping to raise Rotary’s goal of $50 million per year for polio eradication.
Thank you for your continued support in ending this disease in our lifetime.  It will not be possible without your help.