The three countries where polio is still endemic - Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan - are conducting aggressive immunization campaigns to vaccinate more children against the disease. Experts say with India now polio-free and the total number of cases at the lowest level ever, this is an opportunity to change history and irradicate the disease entirely. To reinforce that commitment, many world leaders will be meeting in New York this month.
The oral polio vaccine has cut the number of polio cases worldwide by 99 percent since 1988. For the past 10 years, though, eliminating that last percent has remained a challenge.
Even though the total number of cases has declined, experts say every time they have knocked the virus out in one country, they have seen it pop up in another.
“We have the highest population immunity throughout the entire world right now, and we are really talking about just a few districts and a few countries with a population that has been missed for a fairly long period of time,” said Ellyn Ogden is worldwide polio eradication coordinator for the US Agency for International Development.
Dr. Liam Donaldson, Britain's Chief Medical Officer, who is head of the World Health Organization's Independent Monitoring Board for polio eradication, spoke via Skype, and said the board is especially worried about Nigeria.
“So our good news is mixed with continuing concerns," said Donaldson. "The numbers were coming down, but over the last year we have seen a worrying increase in Nigeria. Polio in Nigeria isn’t just a problem for the population of Nigeria. A lot of the outbreaks that have occurred in other parts of Africa have been fed from epicenters in Nigeria, so that’s why it’s very important not just for Nigeria but for other parts of Africa, as well.”
Donaldson said polio eradication programs are not on track to stop polio virus transmission by 2012.
While polio eradication is urgent, Ogden said these last remaining reservoirs, such as Nigeria and Pakistan, make it difficult to put a date on success.
“It may not happen in the time frame that we are thinking or in the budget that we are thinking, it may take longer and cost more, but I think the effort and the nearness merit additional investments by donors and partners that it's still too early to give up on this ship," said Ogden.
Donaldson said that with 125 cases reported so far this year, one final push is needed to get polio eradication over the finish line.
polio: 小儿麻痹症
国内英语资讯:Alibabas logistics arm pilots used cell phone recovery service
为爱豆的恋情买保险?官方:这些险种不合法
国内英语资讯:Construction of new high-speed railway starts in east China
内蒙古太仆寺旗宝昌一中2017-2018学年高二上学期期末考试英语试卷
期末送命题答错扣41分,你的期末考题还好吗?
女人哭的时候男人在想什么
一张照片引发网友群嘲,贝嫂究竟做了什么?
国内英语资讯:Chinas armed forces to set up full-time inspection teams
吃鸡块还能当职业!吃货的福利来了
国内英语资讯:China to build deep-space lab in Luxembourg
国际英语资讯:2 Japanese opposition parties fail to form alliance, fresh affiliation moves emerge
日本年糕已致多人就医 两人被噎死
兴趣不一样的人怎么在一起
“比萨都可以为什么法棍不行?”法棍面包申遗获马克龙支持
国际英语资讯:UNICEF highlights impact of war on Yemeni children
FOMO 你有“错失恐惧症”吗?
去年我国GDP总量超80万亿元
An Important Teacher 一位重要的老师
加泰罗尼亚新议会首次开会
国内英语资讯:Delegation from Shanghai introduces China International Import Expo in Japan
2017全国美食消费报告出炉,大家最爱吃这个菜!
国际英语资讯:Frances Macron seeks more cooperation with UK on migration
中年换工作?这几个错误千万不能犯
体坛英语资讯:Rockets coach DAntoni says All-star guard Harden could return this week
黑利:巴勒斯坦不认真对待和平进程
体坛英语资讯:Former NBA star Rodman arrested on suspicion of DUI in Southern California
国内英语资讯:CPPCC studies Xis anti-corruption instructions
The Happy Moment 开心时刻
体坛英语资讯:Team Europe comes up from behind to claim Eurasia Cup
国际英语资讯:UN chief concerned about possible U.S. cut in aid for Palestinian refugee agency
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |