Poliomyelitis- or polio- is a viral disease that can effect nerves, and in worse causes, lead to the body being paralyzed. Polio is known as a global epidemic. It's major breakout was seen in Europe in the 1800's and soon after spread to the United States of America. This pathogen was soon recognized as a "regular event" and reached its highest peak in late 1940's and into the 1950's. This wasn't just any sickness being sent across countries and further across the world, it was a deathly, filthy pathogen that took many lives for many years. It was soon so common, it paralyzed and/or killed more than a half million people worldwide every single year.
" Through the 1950's, the scythe of polio cut a terrifying swath through society; nobody was safe." Polio's mental effects were almost just as bad as the physical effects during the 1950's; crippling legs were just as painful as the anxious and scared minds in communities- The fear that they would be the next victim of a horrifying disease. It almost seemed unstoppable. April 12th, 1955 was nothing more than a miracle. A polio vaccine was founded and created by Dr. Jonas Stalk. NPR News said "the vaccine turned a disease that once horrified America into a memory," in 2005, exactly fifty years after the vaccine was discovered. Jonas Stalk's successful vaccine was the real miracle, and as well as a blessing to all the world.
So this beast has a weakness that was obviously founded by the German scientist Jonas Stalk, but did the discovery of the vaccine eliminate the disease forever? No; polio is still a worldwide problem today. Susan Scutti reported "polio outbreak in Syria" with was recent ranging in the last month. Syria, along with six other middle eastern countries have seen the disease spread and continuing to do so with the fear that it may reach Europe too. They believe that Syria's " civil war has produced conditions conducive to a rapid spread of the disease – a collapse of health care systems, massive movements of refugees, lack of hygiene and lack of access for vaccinators " (Israel News). Dealing with such a destructive disease, communities have been warned to be on high alert if the epidemic is to continue spreading.
Though the polio rate has dropped from 125 countries to three countries, over time, polio is still a dangerous pathogen killing people today. Having a vaccine is surely helpful to the world today but it will never provide us with ultimate elimination to the disease.
Critical Thinking:
Who introduced the polio vaccine? Do you believe his actions make him a hero? Why or way not and defend your argument.