NPR: polio https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=133428600 polio en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Tue, 06 May 2025 22:51:28 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR: polio https://www.npr.org/tags/133428600/polio Could polio be poised for a comeback? Cases have been rising in Afghanistan and Pakistan — and global health specialists are worried that this year's U.S. foreign aid cuts could usher in a wider resurgence.<br> Wed, 16 Apr 2025 07:14:50 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/04/16/g-s1-57805/polio-vaccine-usaid-afghanistan-pakistan https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/04/16/g-s1-57805/polio-vaccine-usaid-afghanistan-pakistan

Cases have been rising in Afghanistan and Pakistan — and global health specialists are worried that this year's U.S. foreign aid cuts could usher in a wider resurgence.

(Image credit: Asif Hassan)

]]> Betsy Joles As polio vaccinations begin in Gaza, U.N. says success hinges on a pause in fighting Health care workers plan to reach more than 640,000 Palestinian children in a matter of days while Israel has agreed to staggered pauses in fighting. Sat, 31 Aug 2024 13:35:12 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2024/08/31/nx-s1-5096742/gaza-polio-vaccination-israel-pause https://www.npr.org/2024/08/31/nx-s1-5096742/gaza-polio-vaccination-israel-pause

Health care workers plan to reach more than 640,000 Palestinian children in a matter of days while Israel has agreed to staggered pauses in fighting.

(Image credit: Jihad Al-Sharafi)

]]> Juliana Kim Investigators search Gaza for cases of polio after the virus turns up in wastewater The territory hasn't had any polio cases for 25 years but this suggests the virus is spreading. Polio experts are scrambling to figure out the origins and whether or not there are active cases. Fri, 26 Jul 2024 16:57:47 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2024/07/26/nx-s1-5049852/gaza-polio-who https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2024/07/26/nx-s1-5049852/gaza-polio-who

The territory hasn't had any polio cases for 25 years but this suggests the virus is spreading. Polio experts are scrambling to figure out the origins and whether or not there are active cases.

(Image credit: Majdi Fathi/)

]]> Gabrielle Emanuel Paul Alexander, forced into an iron lung by polio in 1952, dies at 78 "More than anything, I believe he would want others to know they are capable of great things," Alexander's friend Christopher Ulmer told NPR. Wed, 13 Mar 2024 12:18:51 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2024/03/13/1238251518/iron-lung-polio-paul-alexander https://www.npr.org/2024/03/13/1238251518/iron-lung-polio-paul-alexander "More than anything, I believe he would want others to know they are capable of great things," Alexander's friend Christopher Ulmer told NPR.

]]> Bill Chappell Why millions of kids aren't getting their routine vaccinations COVID-19 disrupted health care across the globe. causing the biggest drop in childhood vaccination rates in decades. UNICEF's latest estimates find that nearly 50 million children entirely missed out. Wed, 19 Apr 2023 20:01:38 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/04/19/1170635284/why-millions-of-kids-arent-getting-their-routine-vaccinations https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/04/19/1170635284/why-millions-of-kids-arent-getting-their-routine-vaccinations

COVID-19 disrupted health care across the globe. causing the biggest drop in childhood vaccination rates in decades. UNICEF's latest estimates find that nearly 50 million children entirely missed out.

]]> Rhitu Chatterjee The dream of wiping out polio might need a rethink When public health specialists look at the annual case counts, some see a trend that raises questions about how realistic the goal of a polio-free world might be. Mon, 10 Apr 2023 10:11:47 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/04/10/1168141163/the-dream-of-wiping-out-polio-might-need-a-rethink https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/04/10/1168141163/the-dream-of-wiping-out-polio-might-need-a-rethink

When public health specialists look at the annual case counts, some see a trend that raises questions about how realistic the goal of a polio-free world might be.

]]> Jason Beaubien From COVID to mpox to polio: Our 9 most-read 'viral' stories in 2022 It was a big year for viruses, which simply refused to be ignored. And unlike the previous two years, COVID had to share the spotlight. Fri, 09 Dec 2022 12:30:51 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/12/09/1141000357/from-covid-to-mpox-to-polio-our-9-most-read-viral-stories-in-2022 https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/12/09/1141000357/from-covid-to-mpox-to-polio-our-9-most-read-viral-stories-in-2022

It was a big year for viruses, which simply refused to be ignored. And unlike the previous two years, COVID had to share the spotlight.

]]> Laurel Dalrymple Poliovirus detected in more wastewater near New York City New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state is stepping up polio-fighting efforts as the virus was detected in the wastewater of another county in the New York City area. Sat, 10 Sep 2022 05:17:37 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2022/09/10/1122196513/poliovirus-detected-in-more-wastewater-near-new-york-city https://www.npr.org/2022/09/10/1122196513/poliovirus-detected-in-more-wastewater-near-new-york-city New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state is stepping up polio-fighting efforts as the virus was detected in the wastewater of another county in the New York City area.

]]> The Associated Press Striving to outrace polio: What's it like living with the disease As polio makes a comeback, Minda Dentler reflects on her life with the disease. Paralyzed as an infant in India, she's gone on to become a champion wheelchair triathlete and an immunization advocate. Mon, 29 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/08/29/1119472691/striving-to-outrace-polio-whats-it-like-living-with-the-disease https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/08/29/1119472691/striving-to-outrace-polio-whats-it-like-living-with-the-disease

As polio makes a comeback, Minda Dentler reflects on her life with the disease. Paralyzed as an infant in India, she's gone on to become a champion wheelchair triathlete and an immunization advocate.

]]> Ari Daniel New York counties gear up to fight a polio outbreak among the unvaccinated Polio is spreading in a few New York counties with low vaccination rates. Experts warn that other places in the U.S. could face the same challenge. Wed, 24 Aug 2022 11:11:18 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/08/24/1119128556/new-york-counties-gear-up-to-fight-a-polio-outbreak-among-the-unvaccinated https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/08/24/1119128556/new-york-counties-gear-up-to-fight-a-polio-outbreak-among-the-unvaccinated

Polio is spreading in a few New York counties with low vaccination rates. Experts warn that other places in the U.S. could face the same challenge.

]]> Ari Daniel