Polio

Eradication is within reach.

Thanks to the efforts of UNICEF and its partners, polio has almost—but not quite—disappeared. In 2017, there were only 22 wild poliovirus cases reported worldwide — down from 350,000 in 1988.

In 2014, India was certified by the World Health Organization as having eliminated polio within its borders — a major achievement — leaving just three endemic countries: Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Children under 5 are particularly vulnerable to this highly-infectious, crippling and sometimes fatal disease. And it is known to resurface in countries in conflict, where health systems are disrupted, allowing routine immunizations to lapse. Continued support for vaccinations remains vital.