Polio Eradication Fast Facts
What is Polio? Poliomyelitis (polio) is a crippling virus and a potentially fatal disease.There are currently two strains of the virus, Type 1 and type 3. There has been no cases type 2 since 1999. The poliovirus invades the nervous system, and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. It canstrike at any age, but mainly affects children under five years of age.There is no cure, but there are safe and effective vaccines. The strategy to eradicate polio is thereforebased on preventing infection by immunizing every child until transmission stops and the world is polio-free.
How is it spread?Polio is spread through person-to-person contact. When a child is infected with poliovirus, the virusenters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. It is then shed into the environmentthrough the faeces where it can spread rapidly through a community, especially in situations of poorhygiene and sanitation.
What is Rotary's Financial Contribution? By the time the world is certified polio-free, Rotaryʼs contributions to the global polio eradication effortwill exceed US$1.2 billion of approximately US$10 billion in other donor funds.” Since 1988 Rotaryaccounts for nearly 11% of all contributions to the global budget and represents approximately 64% ofprivate sector funding.In addition, Rotary plays a leading role in soliciting financial support from donor nation governments, aneffort which since 1988 has achieved more than US$8.2 billion in contributions.”
Where do funds raised by Rotary go?“In the initial stages of PolioPlus, Rotary paid for oral polio vaccine and supported start- up costs forRotariansʼ social mobilization efforts in endemic countries. Since the mid- 1990s, Rotary in consultations with its major partners (WHO, UNICEF and CDC) …determine how to deploy PolioPlusfunds to achieve the greatest impact. Currently, Rotary is funding the following areas: salaries fortechnical advisers, operational support, surveillance, social mobilization and stipends for the millions ofvolunteers who conduct National immunization days (NIDs) and perform house-to-house follow-upvisits.”
What is Rotary's In-kind Contribution? “In addition, millions of dollars of 'in-kind' and personal contributions have been made by and throughlocal Rotary clubs and districts for polio eradication activities.Of even greater significance has been the huge volunteer army mobilized by Rotary International.Hundreds of thousands of volunteers at the local level are providing support at clinics or mobilizing theircommunities for immunization or polio eradication activities.More than one million Rotarians worldwide have contributed toward the success of the polio eradicationeffort to date."
What is needed to End Polio?
“In 2009 and 2010, an estimated US$800-850 million per year from all sources is needed incontributions to fund the final eradication phase.
What has been the effect of Polio Plus Program so far?“From the launch of the global initiative in 1988, 5 million people, mainly in the developing world, whowould otherwise have been paralyzed, are walking because they have been immunized against polio.More than 500,000 cases of polio are now prevented each year
Who are the major partners of Rotary in Polio Plus?
“…World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Childrenʼs Fund (UNICEF), the United StatesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the overseas development agencies of donornations.”
How much has the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged?If Rotary raises US $200 Million, then The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation will pledge US $350Million.
How many children have been immunized against polio?"As a result of the efforts of Rotary International Foundation andi ts partners, more than two billionchildren have received oral polio vaccine."“As part of the global polio eradication effort in 2009, more than 360 million children were vaccinated in40 countries using more than 2.2 billion doses of oral polio vaccine.”“The number of cases of polio has declined by 99% since Rotary launched the PolioPlus program.”
What is the cost of the vaccine?
“A child can be protected against polio for as little as US$ .60 worth of vaccine.”
Where is Polio still endemic? “In 1985 the number of endemic countries was over 125 countries…. Today it is 4 countries (India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan).”“Two hundred and ten (210) countries, territories and areas are now free of … polio, and 134 of thesehave been certified polio-free.” Australia has been certified polio free since 2000.
Is there still a risk of Polio spreading?”As long as indigenous wild poliovirus transmission remains anywhere in the world, the risk ofinternational spread of poliovirus will remain. Particularly vulnerable are high-risk countries, i.e. thosebordering endemic areas, those with close socio-cultural-economic ties to endemic areas and thosewith low routine immunization levels.
How will we know when the world is Polio free – Global Certification? “Global Certification: An independent commission will consider global certification when no wild poliovirus associated cases have occurred for at least three years, ….”
How much money will the world save when Polio is eradicated?“Once polio has been eradicated, the world will reap substantial financial, as well as humanitarian,dividends … Depending on national decisions on the future use of polio vaccines, these savings couldexceed US$1 billion per year.”
What is the 'Plus' in PolioPlus? It's the inclusion of Vitamin A supplements on National Immunisation Days (NID's). This has avertedan estimated 1.5 million childhood deaths. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to blindness, increased riskof infection, and a 25 percent greater risk of dying from childhood diseases such as measles, malariaand diarrhea.
What is an Iron Lung? In the 1940s and 1950s, people with the severest form of polio - bulbar polio, were immobilized inside"iron lungs" – huge metal cylinders that operated like a pair of bellows to regulate their breathing andkeep them alive. Today, the iron lung has largely been replaced by the positive pressure ventilator.
References:
RI PR Fact Sheet – Polio Date unknown Rotary International PolioPlus Committee
Statements on Current Facts and Figures Relative to PolioEradication and the Role of Rotary International in the Global Effort
2010
www.polioeradication.org/Polioandprevention.aspx
www.polio.emedtv.com
www.polioaustralia.org.au/
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