India on course to be declared polio free
Posted by Rich Kaye
As of today, India has now been free of new cases of polio for a year, putting it on track to end its status as a country where the virus is endemic. In a few weeks, if pending samples test negative for the virus, India will be officially regarded as free from polio for the first time in its history.
The World Health Organization has described this as a critical milestone. India was once seen as a polio epicenter, the country where the virus was most difficult to tackle. India's success is proof that it's biologically and technically feasible to eradicate polio.
India has battled hard for this moment and if the outstanding tests prove negative as expected, the World Health Organization will officially declare that India has stopped indigenous transmission. That will mean only three polio-endemic countries are left: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
While this is wonderful news, complacency is now the enemy. Just two years ago, India suffered an apparent set-back with more than 700 cases. However, India can manage to go for three years without seeing a new case, the whole Southeast Asian region, which excludes Pakistan and Afghanistan, would be declared polio-free for the first time.
That is an important step along the long road to global eradication.
India has battled hard for this moment and if the outstanding tests prove negative as expected, the World Health Organization will officially declare that India has stopped indigenous transmission. That will mean only three polio-endemic countries are left: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
While this is wonderful news, complacency is now the enemy. Just two years ago, India suffered an apparent set-back with more than 700 cases. However, India can manage to go for three years without seeing a new case, the whole Southeast Asian region, which excludes Pakistan and Afghanistan, would be declared polio-free for the first time.
That is an important step along the long road to global eradication.