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Polio has not appeared in the United States since 1979. Although it has been eliminated in the country for almost 40 years, the disease can still reappear.
Dr. Willis Sutliff, a member of Rotary International, explained that the polio virus could affect Americans if they are not properly vaccinated. Although almost eradicated, polio cases still occur in countries in Asia and Africa. Sutliff said that if a person infected with the virus traveled to America, those who had not been vaccinated were at risk.
"It's ironic, but polio is just a plane ride," he said. "Unless the virus is completely eradicated, it can appear in the United States, especially when people are not vaccinating as well as we hoped."
"It can come back. We have to finish, "added Sutliff.
Ending the virus is the goal of World Polio Day, which will be held on Wednesday, October 24th. Rotary International, an action network, coordinates fundraising efforts to disseminate the vaccine worldwide.
Sutliff detailed the efforts of groups such as Rotary International, as well as the United Nations, the US government, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to raise funds to eliminate the virus.
"Governments around the world have stepped up their efforts," he said. "But it's hard to raise money year after year."
According to Rotary International, more than $ 900 million had been donated to this initiative in 2012. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative estimates that the group's immunization and immunization efforts will require $ 7 billion in funding. 2013 to 2019.
Sutliff added that members of the 5610 Rotary District, which controls South Dakota, as well as clubs from Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa, are invited to donate $ 40.
"We believe that in the next year or two, we will see the end of polio," he said. "But it can come back. We must finish.
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