POLIO a Worldwide Health Emergency!

Yesterday, the World Health Organization declared Polio to be a Worldwide Health Emergency.  They took this step because of the high number of Polio cases reported already this year in the Importation Countries - that is, countries which had formerly eradicated Polio but have now been reinfected by travelers from the three endemic countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria).  This step will increase travel restrictions and will hopefully boost immunization activates in the countries most at risk of Polio outbreaks.        

Stories have appeared in most major news outlets including the Houston Chronicle, the New York Times, and many others.  Here is a link to the report by the WHO http://www.polioeradication.org/Portals/0/Document/Media/Newsletter/PN201404_EN.pdf    I heard the news on the radio in Houston this morning.  Unfortunately, the version I heard said we didn't need to worry about Polio here because we haven't seen any Polio cases here in years.  The truth is that Polio is "just a plane-ride away" and if your kids or grand kids are not immunized, they are in danger of contracting Polio.  

So what can you as a Rotarian do to help?  We must not let the funding gap (we think we will need an additional $1 billion to finish the job) stop the progress we have made.  You can donate by credit card at www.rotary.org/myrotary by clicking on Give in the top right and following the instructions to donate to PolioPlus.  Rotarians should also inform others (including the press and their elected officials) of our 30 year long effort to end this crippling disease.

Congratulations to Rotarians on the District Conference cruise who donated $760 in the PolioPlus raffle there.