Polio, a highly infectious disease, was eradicated from most parts of the world thanks to efforts by the World Health Organization and its partners over the years. However, the disease still persists in a few countries, prompting a global initiative to eliminate it completely in the coming years. Recently, a case of polio was reported in an unvaccinated baby in Gaza, marking the first instance of the disease in the region in over 25 years.
Polio is caused by a virus that primarily affects children under 5 years old. While many infected individuals show no symptoms, the virus can lead to fever, headaches, vomiting, and in severe cases, paralysis. The disease spreads through person-to-person contact, usually via infected waste or contaminated water and food sources. Historically, polio has had devastating effects, with outbreaks causing paralysis and death, particularly before the development of a vaccine in the 1950s.
The campaign to eradicate polio began in 1988 when the WHO aimed to replicate the success of eliminating smallpox. Despite significant progress, Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries where polio transmission has not been halted. The challenge lies in reaching populations in conflict zones and underserved regions to ensure widespread vaccination coverage. While the oral vaccine is effective in preventing infections, rare cases of vaccine-derived polio virus strains pose a risk.
Although health authorities have made strides in reducing wild poliovirus cases, vaccine-related infections now constitute the majority of reported instances globally. The complexity of eradicating polio stems from the necessity for near-perfect vaccination coverage and the potential for vaccine-derived strains to spark new outbreaks. While the technical capability exists to eliminate polio, challenges persist in achieving this goal in a world fraught with imperfections.
