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Polio still threatens children in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Rotary's top philanthropic goal is to eradicate this crippling and potentially fatal disease worldwide.
Since establishing its PolioPlus program in 1985, Rotary has contributed nearly 616 million US dollars and countless volunteer hours to immunize more than 2 billion children in 122 countries against polio.

Rotary will continue the fight until the world is certified polio-free and every child is safe from this devastating disease.

Overall, tremendous progress has been made.

In the 1980's, 1,000 children were infected by this crippling disease every day in 125 countries. In the two decades since, polio cases have been slashed by 99 percent. Less than two thousand cases were reported in 2005.

Two billion children have been immunized, five million spared disability and over 250,000 deaths have been averted from polio.

Last year, the world moved several critical milestones closer toward eradication polio.

More than 400 million children in 49 countries were immunized against polio.

Egypt and Niger were declared polio-free, leaving only four polio-endemic countries in 2006 (Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan).

More efficient and targeted oral polio vaccines were introduced.

Children in the hardest endemic areas were reached and the epidemic in west and central Africa (outside Nigeria) was ended.

Health experts agree that challenges to stopping the spread of polio can be met. The primary challenges are:

Halting the spread of the poliovirus in the remaining four endemic countries from where it can continue to be exported into polio-free areas. Nine countries have reported polio cases in 2006 due to such importations (Somalia, Yemen, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Namibia, Niger, Nepal and DRC).

Curbing the intense spread of the poliovirus in the high-priority states in northern Nigeria and western Uttar Pradesh, India.

Rapidly stopping polio outbreaks in previously polio-free countries.

Addressing low routine immunization rates and surveillance gaps in polio-free areas.

Maintaining funding and political commitment to implement the eradication strategies. The eradication effort requires US$ 575 million for the years 2007 and 2008.