During the polio epidemics, the iron lung saved many thousands of lives, but the machine was large, cumbersome and very expensive. The first iron lung was powered by an electric motor attached to two vacuum cleaners, and worked by changing the pressure inside the machine. When the pressure is lowered, the chest cavity expands, trying to fill this partial vacuum. When the pressure is raised the chest cavity contracts. The expansion and contraction mimicked normal breathing. Even though the patient could breathe in the machine, he could do little else besides looking up at a mirror reflecting the room behind him. Submitted photo

Rotary Club members in Jamestown are among millions reaching out on World Polio Day to raise awareness, money and support to end polio — a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.

Since Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative 30 years ago, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99 .9 percent, from about 350,000 cases a year to just 22 cases in 2017. To sustain this progress, and protect all children from polio, Rotary has omitted to raising $50 million a year in support of global polio eradication efforts. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match Rotary’s commitment with a two-to-one match. Without full funding and political commitment, polio could return to previously polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk.

Rotary International has contributed more than $1.8 billion to end polio since 1985, including more than $200,000 contributed by the Rotary Club of Jamestown.

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members in more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Visit endpolio.org for more information about Rotary and its efforts to eradicate polio.

The first clinical description of the disease was noted in 1789 and in 1840, Jacob Heine described the clinical features of the disease as well as its involvement of the spinal cord. The first outbreak of polio in epidemic form in the U.S. occurred in Vermont in 1894, with 132 cases.

The polio virus usually enters the environment in the feces of someone who is infected. In areas of poor sanitation, the virus easily spreads from feces into the water supply, or, by touch, into food or water. In addition, because polio is so contagious, direct contact with a person infected with the virus can cause polio. Most often, it affected children five and under. Those who were young children in the early 1950s may remember their parents telling children not to jump in piles of leaves lining the street gutters in the fall, thinking that the virus may linger there.

Flu-like symptoms, which could last for up to 10 days could simply go away (abortive polio) or develop into paralytic polio which causes loss of reflexes, severe muscle aches or weakness and loose and floppy limbs (flaccid paralysis). Many cases required iron lungs to assist the patient in breathing or resulted in paralysis needing crutches, walkers or wheelchairs.

Recently, there have been experiences of sudden, unexplained weakness or paralysis, known as acute flaccid paralysis. Most cases of paralysis are not caused by polio, but all are being investigated to be absolutely sure.

Today, all of this can be prevented by vaccination. Most children in the U.S. receive four doses of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) at two months, four months, between 6 and 18 months and between 4 and 6 when children are just entering school. The inoculation series will give a lifetime of protection against the disease.

There are only three countries that have never stopped transmission of the wild poliovirus: Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan. Just 22 cases were confirmed worldwide in 2017, which is a reduction of more than 99.9 percent since the 1980s, when the world saw 1,000 cases per day. As long as a single child remains infected with the poliovirus, children in all countries are at risk of contracting the disease. The poliovirus can easily be imported into a polio-free country and failure to eradicate polio could result in as many as 200,000 new cases every year, within 10 years, all over the world.

The polio cases represented by the remaining one percent are the most difficult to prevent, due to factors including geographical isolation, poor public infrastructure, armed conflict and cultural barriers. Until polio is eradicated, all countries remain at risk of outbreaks.

There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented. A polio vaccine, given multiple times, can protect a child for life.

To donate, contact any Rotarian or go directly to www.EndPolioNow.com.