World Polio Day is annually observed on 24th October. This day commemorates global efforts toward a polio-free future, as well as the selfless sacrifices of those working on the frontline of the battle to eradicate polio from every corner of the world.
We can say that the movement towards having a polio-fre world has already been a huge success as the cases of wild poliovirus have decreased by over 99.9% since 1980, due to the vaccination efforts made around the world.
This day also calls people to stay vigilant in their fight against the disease because although the virus is now exceedingly rare because of modern interventions, it can impair the brain regions that govern respiration, resulting in death. Polio, which has no recognized therapy, can only be avoided through vaccination.
| Event | World Polio Day |
|---|---|
| Date | October 24, 2022 |
| Day | Monday |
| Significance | The day commemorates global efforts toward a polio-free future. |
| Observed by | World wide |
World Polio Day History:
The effects of polio have been known since ancient times as Egyptian paintings and carvings depict otherwise healthy people with withered limbs, and young children walking with canes. However the first clinical description was provided by the English physician Michael Underwood much later in 1789, where he refers to polio as "a debility of the lower extremities". The work of physicians Jakob Heine in 1840 and Karl Oskar Medin in 1890 led to it being known as Heine–Medin disease. The disease was later called infantile paralysis, based on its propensity to affect children.
Before the 20th century, polio infections were rarely seen in infants before six months of age, most cases that time were occurring in children six months to four years of age. Poorer sanitation of the time resulted in constant exposure to the virus, which enhanced a natural immunity within the population. In developed countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, improvements were made in community sanitation, including better sewage disposal and clean water supplies. These changes drastically increased the proportion of children and adults at risk of paralytic polio infection, by reducing childhood exposure and immunity to the disease.
Small localized paralytic polio epidemics began to appear in Europe and the United States around 1900s. Outbreaks reached pandemic proportions in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand during the first half of the 20th century and later spread to all of the world including the developing countries of the world. The polio epidemics not only altered the lives of those who survived them, but also brought profound cultural changes, spurring grassroots fund-raising campaigns that would revolutionize medical philanthropy, and giving rise to the modern field of rehabilitation therapy. The disease was very well publicized during the polio epidemics of the 1950s, with extensive media coverage of any scientific advancements that might lead to a cure.
World Polio Day (24 October) was established in 1985 by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis. By 1994, the entire Western Hemisphere was declared polio-free thanks to extensive vaccination. Only Afghanistan and Pakistan are still affected by it and that's why vaccination campaigns are being conducted aggressively to eliminate the last residual pockets. As a result, polio vaccines are still recommended all over the world, particularly for children under the age of five, who are the most vulnerable to the infection.
World Polio Day Significance:
World Polio Day is observed annually to mark the progress made by the world towards the polio eradication. It highlights the efforts of the frontline workers who supply vaccines in polio-hit countries. On World Polio Day, global organizations urge parents and guardians around the world to vaccinate their children against this disease atleast upto the age of 5 as there is no other treatment for this disease other than vaccination and ignoring it can lead to devastating consequences and can ruin a individual's life by making him disable for the life.
Poliomyelitis, commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 70% of cases of it are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe symptoms develop such as headache, neck stiffness, and paresthesia. These symptoms usually pass within one or two weeks. A less common symptom is permanent paralysis, and possible death in extreme cases. There is no cure of the disease, only immunisation is the cure. Polio vaccine protects children by preparing their bodies to fight the poliovirus. There are two types of vaccines that can prevent polio: Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) and Oral Poliovirus Vaccine(OPV).
Polio occurs naturally only in humans. It is highly infectious, and is spread from person to person either through fecal-oral transmission (e.g. poor hygiene, or by ingestion of food or water contaminated by human feces), or via the oral-oral route. Those who are infected may spread the disease for up to six weeks even if no symptoms are present. The disease may be diagnosed by finding the virus in the feces or detecting antibodies against it in the blood. The virus also multiplies in the intestine and then invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis as a result.
Since Polio is a waterborne disease, and children affected with this disease face the consequences of losing out mobility and walking abilities for their entire life, we need strict measures and vaccinations from time to time to completely kill the virus from its roots and declare the entire world polio-free. On the perfect occasion of World Polio Day, such stringent measures can be adopted and stringently practised to heal our next generations from polio. So this day encourages individuals all around the world to take the issue of polio seriously amd act on it, we have already have been successful in almost eradicating it but now let's eradicate it completely for the good of humanity and prevent its risk by getting our children vaccinated against it.
World Polio Day 2022 Theme:
Every year, World Polio Day is celebrated around a unique theme which is released by the Rotary International. The global and local events to be organized on the day are based on the theme decided for the year.
The theme for World Polio Day 2022 is "A healthier future for mothers and children."
The theme urges the world to acknowledge the progress made in the battle to eradicate polio in children and the work to provide a healthier future for mothers. The goal is to provide mothers with a positive pregnancy experience to help them with the development of children for a brighter and better future.
Most Searched FAQs on World Polio Day:
1. When is World Polio Day celebrated?
World Polio Day is annually celebrated on 24th October.
2. Who established World Polio Day?
Rotary International established World Polio Day in 1985 to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, developer of the first successful vaccine against poliomyelitis.
3. Which three polio kinds are there?
Three wild polioviruses (W.P.V.s) have been identified: type one, type two, and type three. The polio vaccine is the best way to prevent polio, as it offers protection against all three types of the virus.