Why is Polio Still Around?

Polio, which plagued humans for thousands of years, is on the verge of being wiped out. Compared with 1988, when the virus was found in 125 countries, today it's only in three: Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. But they pose stiff challenges.

In these countries, logistics and politics are blocking the elimination of polio, and a lack of money makes the effort even tougher. The main problem is getting the vaccines to children in remote areas, which is complicated by geo-politics, much of which is anti-U.S.

For instance, the Taliban banned the vaccinations in Northern Pakistan to protest American drone strikes. Elsewhere in Pakistan, a community worker with the anti-polio campaign was shot and killed.

What's driving some of the violence is a distrust of humanitarian workers. A polio vaccine program in Nigeria was undermined by rumors that the vaccine is unsafe and part of a plan to sterilize Muslim children.

Exacerbating the distrust was the CIA's fake vaccination campaign to locate Osama Bin Laden. They planned to use DNA obtained by administering a Hepatitis B vaccine to identify Bin Laden's children and thus find the terrorist. Revelation of the ruse enraged locals and put healthcare workers at risk.

These polio-endemic countries continue to place polio-free countries at risk for imported cases. An outbreak in China in early 2012 paralyzed 17 children, killed two and may have come from Pakistan. Sadly, they were avoidable with a vaccine that costs just fifty cents a dose.

A valiant effort by multiple non-profits and governmental agencies is now underway to rid the last vestiges of this disease. Let's hope this time it works.