The Vaccine that Saved Millions: Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis - The Vaccine that Saved Millions
Poliomyelitis (commonly known as polio) is a highly contagious, viral disease that is easily spread by contact with bodily fluids. It is considered a serious global health threat, causing paralysis and even death in severe cases.
For centuries, polio has been a major source of suffering for many communities around the world. That is, until the development of the polio vaccine in the 1950s. As a result of the widespread distribution of the vaccine, polio has been almost completely eradicated from the western world.
The development of the polio vaccine is credited to Dr. Jonas Salk. In the late 1940s, he set out to create a vaccine that would be effective in inoculating against polio. He tested his vaccine on human volunteers and within five months was able to demonstrate that the vaccine was safe and effective.
The widespread use of the polio vaccine brought about a dramatic reduction in the incidence of the disease. In 1952, the United States reported almost 58,000 new cases of polio, but by 1957 the number of new cases had dropped to 5,600. By the late 1960s, the number of new cases had dropped to fewer than 1,000.
The success of the immunization campaign has been credited with saving the lives of millions of people around the world. Entire populations have been saved from paralysis, disability, and death. For this reason, Dr. Salk was celebrated as a hero.
Today, polio is still present in certain areas of the world. But thanks to the incredible work of Dr. Salk and the mass immunization campaign, it is estimated that since the vaccine was introduced, over 2.5 billion people have been protected from the disease.