On October 24, the World Polio Day is celebrated, an international event aimed at raising public awareness about the necessity of eradicating this infectious disease once and for all. Since 1988, Rotary International has been committed to the End Polio Now campaign, a global initiative that has seen a 99.9% reduction in polio cases worldwide, thanks to donations and the tireless efforts of volunteers.
The Current Situation: Progress and Challenges
Despite the successes achieved, polio is not yet fully eradicated. Today, the disease remains endemic in only two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. The number of wild poliovirus (WPV) cases has seen an increase in 2024, with a total of 50 cases (28 in Pakistan and 22 in Afghanistan), compared to 12 cases in the same period in 2023. This worsening has been exacerbated by climatic conditions that have facilitated the spread of the virus. Additionally, vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) has caused 159 cases in 17 countries in 2024, although this is a decrease from 245 cases in 2023.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), of which Rotary is a founding partner, has recently postponed the target for certification of wild virus eradication to 2027, and to 2028 for vaccine-derived poliovirus. These goals underscore the importance of maintaining high vigilance and continuing vaccination campaigns to prevent a resurgence of the disease.
Rotary’s Response and the Vaccination Campaign
An example of Rotary’s commitment was recently seen in the Gaza Strip, where attention to the spread of polio was again prompted by local events. Here, Rotary launched a rapid vaccination campaign, administering the oral polio vaccine to approximately 560,000 children. Initiatives like this demonstrate how crucial international cooperation is in ensuring that the virus finds no fertile ground.
At the local level, as a sign of participation and awareness, this year Palazzo Loggia in Brescia will be illuminated in red on the night of October 23-24, reaffirming the municipality’s support for the End Polio Now campaign.
Massimiliano Pini, governor of Rotary District 2050, emphasized that complete eradication of polio is the only way to ensure the disease does not return: “Together we can do it and gift the magic of a polio-free world to future generations.”
Italian Version
