Thanks to vaccinations, cases of wild poliovirus globally have dropped dramatically. In the 1980s the estimated global number of paralytic cases was over 350,000 per year and the disease was still prevalent in 125 countries.

Fast forward to 2018 and there was 33 cases in two of the three remaining endemic countries–Pakistan and Afghanistan.

How did we get here and what are the hurdles left to eliminating polio from the face of the earth?

Joining me today to discuss the global polio situation from Geneva is Oliver Rosenbauer, Oliver is the Spokesperson for polio eradication at the World Health Organization (WHO).


Watch other Outbreak News TV episodes:

Health promotion, disease outbreaks and public health with Glenn Laverack, PhD

Medicine and the media with Amesh Adalja, MD

Pandemic flu, vaccine-preventable diseases and more with CIDRAP Director, Michael Osterholm, PhD on Outbreak News TV

Podcasts of interest:

Japanese encephalitis with Dr. Melvin Sanicas

Staying Healthy Abroad with Dr Christopher Sanford

Venezuela epidemics: From measles to malaria with Dr. Alberto Paniz-Mondolfi

Asian longhorned ticks with Maria Diuk-Wasser, PhD

Vaccines, autism and a very important book

Madariaga virus with Dr Glenn Morris

Image/CDC-/ Meredith Boyter Newlove, M.S., James Archer, M.S.
Image/CDC-/ Meredith Boyter Newlove, M.S., James Archer, M.S.