Epidemology and PuBlic HEalth |
- Great progress has been made in eradicating polio, however, as of 2014, it is still endemic in 3 countries. In these three countries, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria, the virus still exists.
- Outbreaks have also been documented in other parts of Africa, and in parts of the Middle East.
- This means that there are still risks in travelling to countries that have not eradicated polio. Especially since, most people can carry the disease without showing any symptoms.
- The number of cases of polio has decreased by 99% since 1989 when the Global Polio Eradication Initiative began and they created a 5-year plan in 2013 in order to completely eradicate polio globally. And so, travelling will soon be completely safe.
Sources:
- http://www.who.int/ith/diseases/polio/en/
- http://www.polioeradication.org/Polioandprevention/Historyofpolio.aspx