Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital Pediatrics and Neonatal Specialist Asst. Prof. Dr. Seyhan Erişir Oygucu, explained that polio known as infantile paralysis is an infectious disease caused by the polio virus which leads to death or disability.

Oygucu made a statement due to the 24th of October World Polio Day and said that polio virus causes infection in children under the age of 5 and attacks the nervous system causing permanent paralysis of the muscles. Stressing that in the 1940s and 1950s, around 2 million people died or became paralyzed due to the polio disease Asst. Prof. Dr. Seyhan Erişir Oygucu also stated that in 1954 the polio vaccine developed by Jonas Edward Salk and the oral polio vaccine developed by Albert Sabin, resulted in a significant decrease in the number of cases seen worldwide.

Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital, Pediatric and Neonatal Specialist Assist. Prof.  Dr. Seyhan Erişir Oygucu reminded that 24th of October was declared as the World Polio Day first by the Rotary Foundation in order to raise awareness about polio and eradicate the disease completely from the World. Assist. Prof. Dr. Seyhan Erişir Oygucu stated that the polio eradication program of the World Health Organization which is the core partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, started in 1988 and as a result the number of reported cases in the world decreased from 350,000 to 407 in 2013 and the frequency of the disease was reduced by 99%.

Oygucu stated that these results show how effective vaccination is in preventing this disease, however according to the current WHO data, it is still seen in 3 countries (Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan). The reason for this is that some children in these countries still cannot be reached to receive vaccinations due to the conditions of the country or the families’ false beliefs. Asst. Prof. Dr. Seyhan Erişir Oygucu, stated that WHO’s International Travel and Health Department has advised that individuals who will travel to these countries should be fully vaccinated against polio and people who will visit more than 4 weeks are recommended to take additional doses of the polio vaccine.

Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital, Pediatric and Neonatal Specialist Assist. Prof.  Dr. Seyhan Erişir Oygucu gave an example of the data from Turkey reporting no polio cases since 1980 due to the help of the Ministry of Health and Immunization Program. According to the Ministry of Health vaccination schedule, all children are vaccinated against polio on their 2nd, 4th, 6th and 18th month and also stated that social immunity is provided through vaccination campaigns and ended her statement by emphasizing that vaccination should be continued till the disease will be eradicated worldwide.