Brief Overview | Polio Facts and Figures | History of Polio | The Progress of Polio Eradication | The Challenges

History of Polio

1954—Breakthrough by Dr. Jonas Salk with development of first polio vaccine.

1961—Further advances through development of oral vaccine by Dr Albert Sabine. This allowed for administration of vaccine by trained volunteers.

1985—Start of Rotary International’s PolioPlus campaign. Some125 polio-endemic countries with 1,000 children infected every day.

1991—Last case in the Americas.

1996—85% reduction in cases with 150 countries polio free.

2000—Western Pacific region polio free.

2002—Europe polio free.

2003—Only endemic in seven countries.

2004—23 African countries unite to hold multi-national immunization day.

2005/6—Development of mono-valiant vaccines.

2008—Only four remaining polio endemic countries – Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. Less than 2,000 cases per annum – a 99.4% reduction.

The final 1% will be the most difficult and the most expensive to eliminate.