History of Polio: From Ancient Egypt to Near-Eradication
How Did Polio Go From Ancient Scourge to Near-Eradication in Two Generations?
Polio has plagued humanity for over 3,000 years, from Egyptian stone carvings showing withered limbs in 1580 BC to paralyzing over 1,000 children daily in 1988. Through coordinated global vaccination efforts starting with Rotary International in 1985 and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, wild poliovirus now circulates in only two countries, representing a 99% reduction in global cases.