The first known clinical description of poliomyelitis was when Michael Underwood, a British physician, who in 1789 reported seeing an illness which appeared to target primarily children and left the victims with residual debility of the lower extremities. Before, cave paintings made by the Ancient Egyptians were discovered, some of them having a picture of a king with a cane on his hand and a withered leg, a symptom of polio in mid 1000 B.C. In later years, additional cases of poliomyelitis would be reported. Initial outbreaks in Europe were documented in the early 19th century and outbreaks in the United States were first reported in 1843. However, it was not until the early 20th century that the number of paralytic poliomyelitis cases reached epidemic proportions.
In 1938, in efforts to support care for patients with poliomyelitis as well as fund research to combat the illness, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (now the March of Dimes) was established. The number of paralytic cases in the United States, estimated to have been 21,000, peaked in 1952. Fortunately, on April 12, 1955, the March of Dimes declared that the Salk polio vaccine, an IPV, was both safe and effective. Then, in 1963, the development of a second vaccine, the Sabin polio vaccine,(OPV) was announced. With the introduction of effective vaccines, the incidence of poliomyelitis rapidly declined. Indeed, in the United States, the last case of poliomyelitis due to infection with wild type (wt) virus was reported in 1979. Less than a decade later, in 1988, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a global campaign to get rid of the virus.
Since initial descriptions of poliomyelitis were first documented to the present time, innumerable milestones have been reached in understanding the molecular biology of PV and the pathogenesis of poliomyelitis. Such advances have certainly led to the more effective management of poliomyelitis. Nonetheless, many questions remain unanswered.
Please NOTE: THIS IS A VERY BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF POLIO. TO FIND THOROUGH INFORMATION, PLEASE WATCH THE TWO VIDEOS ON THE BOTTOM, CLICK "Documentary" ON THE NAVIGATION BAR, OR CLICK THE BLUE BUTTON BELOW. THANK YOU!
In 1938, in efforts to support care for patients with poliomyelitis as well as fund research to combat the illness, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (now the March of Dimes) was established. The number of paralytic cases in the United States, estimated to have been 21,000, peaked in 1952. Fortunately, on April 12, 1955, the March of Dimes declared that the Salk polio vaccine, an IPV, was both safe and effective. Then, in 1963, the development of a second vaccine, the Sabin polio vaccine,(OPV) was announced. With the introduction of effective vaccines, the incidence of poliomyelitis rapidly declined. Indeed, in the United States, the last case of poliomyelitis due to infection with wild type (wt) virus was reported in 1979. Less than a decade later, in 1988, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a global campaign to get rid of the virus.
Since initial descriptions of poliomyelitis were first documented to the present time, innumerable milestones have been reached in understanding the molecular biology of PV and the pathogenesis of poliomyelitis. Such advances have certainly led to the more effective management of poliomyelitis. Nonetheless, many questions remain unanswered.
Please NOTE: THIS IS A VERY BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF POLIO. TO FIND THOROUGH INFORMATION, PLEASE WATCH THE TWO VIDEOS ON THE BOTTOM, CLICK "Documentary" ON THE NAVIGATION BAR, OR CLICK THE BLUE BUTTON BELOW. THANK YOU!
Living in Fear: America in the Polio Years
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David Oshinsky, the author of "Polio: An American Story" reflects on the history of polio and the final push needed for eradication.
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The development of polio vaccines is more than a great medical success; this is a gripping story that provides a window into the evolution of medical research during the last century
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