The beginning of the end for polio worldwide began in 1955 when the Salk vaccine was released for general use. It has been effective. The oral polio vaccine was developed in 1958 by Dr. Albert Sabin.  It was field tested extensively and in 1960 was used to vaccinate about 100 million children in Europe.  While it was approved for use in the U.S. in late 1960.  It was not until 1962-1964 that about 100 million persons of all ages received the oral vaccine in the United States.  The oral polio vaccine was easily administered by giving children a "sugar cube" or sugar liquid containing the vaccine, neither of which requires extensive medical traingin to be administered.

Concerned American parents in 1962-1964 were most willing and prepared to pay $10.00 or greater, for a "sugar cube" to induce long lasting protective immunity in their precious children.

Rotary International, twenty years ago, initiated a program to eliminate polio worldwide.  Significant progress has been made in attaining this essential health goal.  The oral polio vaccine, costing about 60 cents each, is being used to world wide immunize the children remaining and needing protection.  

Will you donate and help in this Rotary International effort to achieve our goal?  

Polio Eradication Update

For The Week Ending 08/22/09

Total paralysis cases	Year-to-date 2009	Year-to-date 2008	Total in 2008
Globally	839	1044	1651
- in endemic countries:	621	980	1505
- in non-endemic countries:	218	64	146

New Polio cases reported in the last week: 2 - Nigeria, 22 - India, 4 – Pakistan, 1- Cote d’Ivoire, 1 – Angola, 3 – Afghanistan  

2009 Case Breakdown by Country (Green Numbers are 2008 Totals)

Endemic Countries –  363 Nigeria(798), 206 India(559), 35 Pakistan(117),

17 Afghanistan(31)

 + Importation Countries –  19 Angola(29), 20 Benin(6), 12 Burkina Faso(6), 14 CAR(3),

13 Chad(37), 24 Cote d’Ivoire(1) 3 DRC(5), 0 Ethiopia(3), 0 Ghana(8), 15 Guinea (0), 17 Kenya (0), 7 Liberia(0), 1 Mali(1), 0 Nepal(6), 15 Niger(12), 44 Sudan(26), 6 Togo(3), 8 Uganda (0) 

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Our goal this year is $2000!!!  On October 24, 2009, Rotary clubs in the state of Texas will observe PolioPlus Day. Our club will have a fun event at the Oak Hill Library and Dick Nichols Park. If you would like to contribute, please use the contact us link.

Our club raised over $1,000 last year for PolioPlus.  Our goal was $500 so we are very pleased with the support we have received from our members.  We did this by collecting loose pocket change each week, having a fun Olympics fundraiser, and members donating outright. Thank you Foundation Chair Jim Osbon, Judy Van Cleve, Jim Foster and to everyone who has supported PolioPlus

For further informationa about Polio Plus and Rotary's committment to eradicating polio around the world, please follow this link. http://rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_doc/trf_pp_talking_points.doc