Why We Need to Remember the Physical Effects of Polio
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Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to paralysis, respiratory failure, and even death. Despite the global efforts to eradicate the disease through vaccination campaigns, recent studies have highlighted the resurgence of polio cases in various parts of the world. The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to the ongoing efforts of polio eradication, leading to a decrease in immunization rates and an increase in polio incidence. According to a recent paper by C. Castilletti and M. Capobianchi, the resurgence of polio globally is linked to the decreased immunization rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries like the US, UK, and Israel have reported new polio cases, with WPV1 remaining endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan. This poses a continued risk of international spread, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high immunization coverage to prevent the disease from resurging. Another study, by F. Niaz et al., discusses how the disruption of childhood vaccination programs during the pandemic has led to a drop in global polio immunization coverage. This decline has resulted in a rise in both wild poliovirus (WPV) and vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) cases, particularly highlighting the increase in cVDPV2 cases globally. The reduced vaccination rates have created a fertile ground for the virus to spread, jeopardizing the progress made in polio eradication efforts. The impact of COVID-19 disruptions on global polio eradication efforts has been significant, as highlighted in a paper by Dominika A Kalkowska et al. The study shows that reductions in immunization campaigns and changes in population mixing have affected polio incidence, causing delays in eradication timelines. The indirect effects on resources further compounded the challenges faced in the fight against polio, underscoring the need for sustained immunization efforts and healthcare infrastructure to combat the disease effectively. It is crucial to remember the physical effects of polio and the importance of vaccination in preventing its spread. The legacy of polio serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of infectious diseases and the significance of maintaining high immunization coverage to protect public health. By learning from past experiences and addressing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we can continue working towards a polio-free world and ensure that future generations are spared from the debilitating effects of this disease.
小兒麻痺症，簡稱小兒麻痺，是一種極易傳染的病毒感染，可能導致癱瘓、呼吸衰竭，甚至死亡。儘管全球通過接種疫苗來根除該疾病的努力，但最近的研究突顯了全球各地小兒麻痺病例的再次出現。新冠肺炎疫情造成的中斷對小兒麻痺根除工作構成了重大挑戰，導致接種率下降，小兒麻痺發病率上升。根據C. Castilletti和M. Capobianchi最近的一篇論文，全球小兒麻痺的再次流行與新冠肺炎疫情期間的接種率下降有關。像美國、英國和以色列這樣的國家報告了新的小兒麻痺病例，而WPV1仍然在巴基斯坦和阿富汗是地方性的。這構成了國際擴散的持續風險，強調了保持高接種覆蓋率以防止該疾病再次流行的重要性。F. Niaz等人的另一項研究討論了疫情期間兒童接種計畫的中斷如何導致全球小兒麻痺疫苗接種覆蓋率下降。這一下降導致野生小兒麻痺病毒（WPV）和疫苗衍生小兒麻痺病毒（cVDPV）病例數量增加，特別是全球cVDPV2病例增加。接種率降低為病毒擴散創造了肥沃的土壤，危及了小兒麻痺根除工作取得的進展。全球新冠肺炎疫情對全球小兒麻痺根除工作的影響是顯著的，正如Dominika A Kalkowska等人在一篇論文中所強調的那樣。該研究表明，疫苗接種活動的減少和人口混合的變化影響了小兒麻痺的發病率，導致根除時間延遲。對資源的間接影響進一步加劇了在對抗小兒麻痺的鬥爭中面臨的挑戰，突顯了持續免疫努力和醫療基礎設施對有效對抗該疾病的必要性。記住小兒麻痺的身體影響和疫苗接種在防止其傳播方面的重要性至關重要。小兒麻痺的傳承提醒了傳染病的毀滅性後果以及保持高接種覆蓋率以保護公共衛生的重要性。通過從過去的經驗中學習並應對新冠肺炎疫情帶來的挑戰，我們可以繼續努力實現一個無小兒麻痺的世界，確保未來世代免於該疾病的嚴重影響。