|
| 1800s |
| |
1800s |
Paralytic
poliomyelitis (polio) takes its toll worldwide, affecting mostly children.
The disease is known as infantile paralysis. |
| |
1894 |
First
known polio epidemic in the United States occurs in Vermont. |
| 1900s |
| |
1908 |
Dr.
Karl Landsteiner discovers that the cause of infantile paralysis is
a virus. |
| |
1916 |
The
first major epidemic of polio documented in the United States strikes,
paralyzing young children and horrifying the nation. Increasing numbers
of outbreaks occur each year in the U.S. |
| 1920s |
| |
1921 |
Franklin
D. Roosevelt is diagnosed with polio. |
| |
1927 |
Roosevelt organizes the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation for polio
sufferers. |
| |
1928 |
The
first iron lung is used to preserve breathing function in patients
with acute polio. |
| 1930s |
| |
1932 |
Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected President of the United States. |
| |
1938 |
President
Roosevelt founds the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP,
known today as the March of Dimes). |
| |
1938-1958 |
March
of Dimes recruits celebrities to help raise funds and awareness in
its efforts to fight polio. |
| 1940s |
| |
1942 |
Dr.
Jonas Salk arrives at the University of Michigan School of Public
Health. Techniques earned there with influenza are used later to
develop the polio vaccine. |
| |
1945 |
President
Roosevelt dies on April 12. |
| |
1947 |
Salk
is recruited by the University of Pittsburgh to develop a virus research
program. |
| |
1948-49 |
Scientists
from four universities confirm there are only three strains of poliovirus.
|
| 1950s |
| |
1952 |
The
worst recorded polio epidemic in United States history occurs, with
57,628 reported cases. |
| |
1954 |
|
|
Dr.
Salk and associates develop a potentially safe injectable vaccine
against polio, (IPV) given to nearly 15,000 Pittsburgh-area
subjects (most were children) in pilot trials, 1952-1954. |
|
|
Dr.
Thomas Francis, Jr., University of Michigan, directs field trials
of Salk vaccine sponsored by NFIP. The trials are the largest
in U.S. history, involving 1.8 million children, and use the
now standard double-blind process for the first time. |
|
|
Nobel
Prize in Medicine is awarded to John F. Enders, Thomas H. Weller,
and Fredrick C. Robbins for their discovery of the ability of
poliomyelitis viruses to grow in tissue cultures. |
|
| |
1955 |
On
April 12 at the University of Michigan, Dr. Francis announces field
trial results: Salk vaccine is “safe, effective and potent.”
Dr. Francis’s Vaccine Evaluation Center becomes the model for
future vaccine trials. |
| |
1955-57 |
Once
vaccine becomes available, incidence of polio in the United States
falls by 85-90%. |
| 1960s |
| |
1961 |
Oral
polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Albert Sabin, is licensed for use
in the United States. |
| |
1963 |
Congress
establishes the Immunization Grant Program; polio incidence plummets
to only 396 reported cases in the United States. |
| 1970s |
| |
1979 |
Last
U.S. case of polio caused by wild poliovirus. |
| 1980s |
| |
1985 |
Rotary
International establishes its PolioPlus program, which holds two fundraising
events. Rotary has contributed over $500 million to fight polio worldwide. |
| |
1988 |
Global
Polio Eradication Initiative is launched as global burden of polio
impacts 350,000 in 125 countries annually. Spearheading partners include
the World Health Organization, Rotary International, U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF. |
| 1990s |
| |
1994 |
The
Americas are certified polio-free. |
| |
1999 |
The
U.S. Public Health Service recommends that the oral vaccine be discontinued
in the United States, and a modified IPV becomes the preferred vaccine.
|
| 2000s |
| |
2000 |
The
Western Pacific Region is certified polio-free. |
| |
2002 |
|
The
European Region is certified polio-free. |
|
|
Rotary
International launches a second fundraising campaign to eradicate
polio. |
|
| |
2005 |
April
12, 2005 marks the 50th anniversary of the Salk vaccine. Efforts to
eradicate polio worldwide remain necessary, with just over 1,200 cases
globally.
|
Commerical printer color poster: 
