Polio is a disease that has seemed to fade away in the United States since the introduction of the polio vaccine in 1955. However, this disease is alive and well outside of the US despite a strong push by international agencies such as the WHO to eradicate polio in the last few decades. In fact, in 1988 the WHO pledged to eradicate polio by 2000, but this dream has yet to reach reality.

Why is the eradication of polio less successful than the effort to eradicate Smallpox, a goal achieved in the 1970’s?

These difficulties come from the nature of polio itself and the special challenges that this virus poses to those who would halt its transmission. Continue reading The Problem with Polio →