Today, on World Polio Day, we are reflecting on an international level how far we came with the paralyzing disease.
Polio, the viral disease that affects nerves and can lead to paralysis, is at a record low - only appearing in three countries (Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan). There are so few cases there that endpolio.org says only one percent of the world is still battling the disease.
The only disease to be completely cured in the world is small pox, as Huffington Post reports.
In honor of World Polio Day, Rotary is hosting a 90-minute live stream presentation at 7:30 p.m. Chicago-time at the John Hughes Auditorium on Northwestern's Chicago campus in front of a live audience.
The event will be hosted by Archie Panjabi, an Emmy-winning actor and one of Rotary's ambassadors for polio eradication.
Some polio experts will also appear on the show including Dr. Bruce Aylward, assistant director-general for Polio, Emergencies and Country Collaboration at the World Health Organization; Dennis Ogbe, polio survivor, Paralympian, and ambassador for the United Nations Foundation's Shot@Life campaign to promote child immunization; and Dr. Robert Murphy, professor of medicine-infectious diseases at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine.
Watch the event live here:
