polio

He Sometimes Crawled To School, He Plays Soccer On A Scooter

1:47pm November 02, 2015

by Anders Kelto

Polio paralyzed Sani Muntari as a child. That didn't keep him from school or off the soccer field. And he's played a key role in making Nigeria polio-free.

Animated Map: Follow Polio's Eradication — And Stubborn Persistence

Next Year Could Mark The End Of Polio

7:25pm October 26, 2015

by Jason Beaubien

Nigeria is now off the list — the last case was in 2014. That leaves Afghanistan and Pakistan as the last two countries harboring the virus.

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Two polio cases have been reported in Ukraine, where some parents are fearful of vaccinations. Above: A child receives the diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus vaccine in a children's hospital in Kiev.

How Did Polio Pop Up In 2 Polio-Free Countries: Ukraine And Mali?

2:40pm September 10, 2015

by Diane Cole

Three new cases have raised questions about how the virus can suddenly reappear in a place where it had previously been eradicated.

No trace of polio has been found in Nigeria since July 2014. Above, a child at a health clinic there is immunized. New findings about how long the polio virus can be excreted by some individuals make it clear that vaccine vigilance is critical.

A Man Shed Live Polio Virus In His Stool For 28 Years

7:16pm August 27, 2015

by Susan Brink

That's the longest span for one individual to excrete the live virus in history. It's not the norm, that's for certain. But how much of a concern is it in the war to wipe out polio?

These two Portuguese language posters are pro-inoculation. The one at left, produced in 1977, says, "Vaccinate and protect the children." The one at right, from '87, sends a similar message, noting that vaccination offers an opportunity for every youngste

Posters, Bullhorns And Skirts Help Spread The Word About Vaccines

3:05pm August 23, 2015

by Francesca Lunzer Kritz

One in five children in the developing world misses out on routine immunizations. How do you recruit them? With town criers, public notices — and even a call to action emblazoned on a garment.

A child is vaccinated in Makadara Health Clinic, Nairobi, Kenya.

Catholic Bishops In Kenya Call For A Boycott Of Polio Vaccines

1:32pm August 10, 2015

by Gregory Warner

Africa marks one year without polio on Tuesday. But there are now concerns in Kenya, where bishops have declared a boycott of the vaccine on the eve of a WHO polio vaccination campaign.

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At the health clinic in Minjibir, Nigeria, a child is immunized for polio.

Polio Is Active In Only 3 Countries. Soon It Could Be Down To 2

4:00pm July 01, 2015

by Jason Beaubien

Nigeria is one of three places where polio is still a problem. But there hasn't been a case in almost a year. So Africa is on the verge of being polio-free.

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A patch that's the size of a nickel could one day administer the measles vaccine.

Why Your Future Vaccination Might Not Be A Shot

11:43am May 04, 2015

by Poncie Rutsch

Step aside, injections! The next flu vaccine you see might look more like a bandage — a patch covered in 100 microscopic needles that dissolve in the skin in just a few minutes.

A health worker injects a vaccine to prevent polio and measles in Lahore, Pakistan.

Jonas Salk's Polio Vaccine Makes A Comeback

7:38pm April 13, 2015

by Joanne Silberner

As it marks its 60th birthday, the injectable vaccine is still critical. It's "needed to end polio for good," as Carol Pendak of Rotary's Polio Plus program puts it.

Two drops of polio vaccine are administered to a child in a Nigerian health clinic.

What's Up With Parents Who Don't Vaccinate Their Children?

2:10pm March 27, 2015

by Susan Brink

It could be a lack of confidence in the medicine. Maybe they don't think the risk of infection is that high. Or the clinic may be far from home. A new report looks at reasons in five countries.