President Pranab Mukherjee has launched Pulse Polio Immunization programme by administering polio drops to children at Rashtrapati Bhavan ahead of the National Immunization Day, which is on January 18. Children of less than five years age will be given polio drops on this day as a part of the Union Government’s polio eradication programme. India was certified by WHO as ‘polio free‘ in 2014.
Knowledge is Wealth
Poliomyelitis or Polio is a disease caused by a virus called Poliovirus.
Poliovirus was first isolated Karl Landsteiner and Erwin Popper in 1909.
According to WHO report, Polio still exists only in three countries – Pakistan, Nigeria, and Afghanistan.
October 24 is World Polio day (established by Rotary International).
The first Polio Vaccine was developed by Jonas Salk and it was first tested in 1952.