This close gets even closer for polio eradication

Only five cases of wild polio virus this year thru April 12

We’ve all heard it dozens of times in the last five years, and it continues to be true. We’re this close to eradicating the devastating and crippling disease that attacks mainly children—polio.

The World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations reports only three new cases this year in Afghanistan and two more in Pakistan thru April 12 compared to ten at this time in 2016 and 21 in 2015. With hot summer weather ahead in those regions, the total will likely climb. Last year, for example, the total rose to 21 new cases by year-end.

Another piece of good news, no new cases were reported anywhere this year since February 20.

The Rotary Foundation has funded hundreds of millions of dollars to the effort since 1985 and has supported two UN agencies, WHO and UNICEF, in the eradication effort. But much of the progress in recent years has come from the Bill and Melinda Foundation with challenge grants to our foundation. Now Bill Gates has agreed to be the keynote speaker at this summer’s Rotary International convention in Atlanta June 11-14.

You can learn details and register at www.riconvention.org/en/atlanta/schedule-highlights.