A victory against polio

Abstract

The world celebrated an historic day on 29 October 2000 - the date of elimination of poliomyelitis in the Western Pacific. The vast region stretches from the western borders of China to the eastern reaches of Polynesia, encompassing one quarter of the world's population. This achievement matches that on 20 August 1994 when the Pan American Health Organization declared the Americas to be polio free. These dates are but two of a number of immensely significant milestones marking our continuing progress towards the global eradication of this fearful disease, which has killed and lamed millions of children over the centuries. Before vaccines became available there were an estimated 600,000 cases of paralytic polio annually.