Geneva, Switzerland – On October 15, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) made a historic announcement, declaring the global eradication of polio, a major milestone in public health after decades of concerted efforts. This declaration marks the end of the wild polio virus, which once paralyzed thousands of children worldwide each year.
The announcement was made during a press conference at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, praised the achievement as a testament to global collaboration and perseverance. “Today, we celebrate the end of a disease that has affected millions of lives for over a century. This victory shows what can be achieved when nations unite with a common goal,” Dr. Tedros stated.
Polio, which primarily affects young children, can lead to permanent paralysis and sometimes death. The global effort to eradicate polio began in 1988, when the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was launched by WHO, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Rotary International. Since then, millions of children have been vaccinated, and the number of polio cases has dropped by more than 99%, thanks to these vaccination campaigns.
Key figures involved in the global eradication effort include Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has played a significant role in funding vaccination efforts. Gates, alongside other public health leaders, has been a staunch advocate for the polio eradication campaign, contributing substantial resources to ensure the distribution of vaccines to remote and underserved areas.
The last known cases of wild polio were reported in Afghanistan and Pakistan, two countries where the virus remained endemic despite extensive vaccination efforts. However, through targeted vaccination campaigns and increased political commitment in these regions, the virus has now been eradicated globally. Experts credit this achievement to a combination of factors, including effective vaccination strategies, improved surveillance systems, and the dedication of healthcare workers on the front lines.
Dr. Bruce Aylward, Senior Advisor to the WHO’s Director-General and a key figure in the polio eradication effort, expressed optimism about the future. “This success demonstrates the power of vaccines and the importance of continued global health efforts. With polio now eradicated, the focus shifts to ensuring that no new cases occur and that the gains made are sustained for future generations.”
Despite the success, WHO officials emphasized that the fight is not over. They cautioned that continued vigilance is necessary to prevent the virus from reappearing in previously polio-free regions. Ongoing efforts will focus on ensuring that the polio vaccine reaches all children and monitoring the global spread of vaccine-derived polio strains, which are rare but can occur in under-immunized communities.
This historic achievement is considered one of the greatest successes in public health history, and it highlights the critical role of global cooperation in tackling infectious diseases. As the world celebrates the eradication of polio, attention is now turning to other diseases that may be targeted for eradication in the future, including malaria and tuberculosis.
