# India decalred polio free **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 27, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/india-decalred-polio-free/684714 "2014-03-27T19:27:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/india-decalred-polio-free/684714/1 "2014-03-27T19:27:11Z")
> **[Global health success: India certified free of polio | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2014/03/27/health/india-polio-3-years/)** > > India has been certified polio-free by the World Health Organization after going three years without an endemic case of polio. The eradication of polio in India is heralded as one of the biggest achievements in global health efforts. Three years without a case. This leaves Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria Last year I participated in a local bicycle ride where the proceeds when to polio elimination (via Rotary International), so I feel I can take .000000000000001% of the credit 🙂 Brian ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/india-decalred-polio-free/684714/2 "2014-03-27T19:33:29Z")
Wow… May it never creep back. The remaining few are going to be hard. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/india-decalred-polio-free/684714/3 "2014-03-27T19:36:16Z")
The stories of how these vaccinations are carried out and the barriers people have to break through to get it done are pretty intense. It’s a monumental task that often seems hopeless. But the animated map that accompanies your linked article sure is hopeful! [Here’s an article from Wired](http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/polio-vaccine/) about reaching the last few un-vaccinated people. It’s a great read. And good on you for your contribution 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/india-decalred-polio-free/684714/4 "2014-03-27T22:08:05Z")
Amazing. We’re so close to wiping out this scourge. In my last job, we had a patient originally from Pakistan who had been afflicted with polio. He limped along slowly when he walked. Hopefully soon, no one will have to fear this any longer. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/india-decalred-polio-free/684714/5 "2014-03-28T00:44:50Z")
Here is the global polio initiative web site if anyone is interested. [Polio Now – GPEI](http://www.polioeradication.org/Dataandmonitoring.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/india-decalred-polio-free/684714/6 "2014-05-05T22:42:21Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Amazing. We’re so close to wiping out this scourge. Wrong: Polio declared global emergency as conflicts fuel spread “The number of cases reached a record low of 223 globally in 2012 and jumped to 417 last year, according to the WHO… An $US11.8 billion eradication campaign backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Rotary International had reduced polio to three countries in which it spreads locally: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. In the past six months, the virus has spread to Syria, Iraq, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Israel and Somalia, according to the WHO.” > **[Polio declared global emergency as conflicts fuel spread](https://www.smh.com.au/world/polio-declared-global-emergency-as-conflicts-fuel-spread-20140506-zr57l.html)** > > The spread of polio to countries previously considered free of the crippling disease is a global health emergency, the World Health Organisation said, as the virus once nearly extinct mounts a comeback. Terrible news. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/india-decalred-polio-free/684714/7 "2014-05-06T02:25:06Z")
Yup. Dammit. ☹ It was going so well. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/india-decalred-polio-free/684714/8 "2014-05-06T02:55:46Z")
Not to mention this new polio-like illness in California And I imagine the damned anti-vaccers will do something to get polio back in the US. > **[Mysterious polio-like illness affects kids in California](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/23/polio-like-illness-california/5703827/)** > > Doctors don't know the cause but believe it's linked to an unknown enterovirus. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/india-decalred-polio-free/684714/9 "2014-05-06T09:36:26Z")
I’ve actually heard this argument: “I’m not sure I feel safe about getting my kids vaccinated, and why should I? Everybody else’s kids are…”