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World Polio Day: 24th day of October, 2017!

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KARACHI: World Polio Day is observed every year on October 24 commemorating the birth of American medical researcher and virologist Jonas Salk under whose leadership a team of researchers successfully discovered and developed one of the first successful polio vaccines.

Virologist Jonas Salk.

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* Polio is an infectious life-threatening disease that can cause permanent muscle weakness & paralysis.

* Polio is caused by a virus known as poliovirus, which is highly contagious.

* Poliovirus spreads due to contaminated food/water and by direct contact with an infected person.

* Unfortunately, almost all of those infected with poliovirus do not know they have been infected, as there are no symptoms.

* Polio can be prevented through immunization.

* Polio vaccine, given multiple times, almost always protects a child for life.

* Though Polio can’t be cured by means of treatment its impact could be lessened.  

* After WHO declared India polio-free country in 2014, poliovirus only occurs in Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.