Before we congratulate ourselves on eliminating polio (at least from the
Western hemisphere) we need to remember that the disease *polio* was never
very common, especially in 3rd world countries where most of the population
had subclinical infections as infants. Until everyone worldwide is immunized
for a period of time the virus could still be around, waiting for the
opportunity provided by unprotected segments of the populations.
I am reminded of Mark Twain's comment that "reports of my death are
greatly exagerrated" and the remark of the Surgeon-General of the U.S. in
1969 (I think that is the right year) that "we can now close the book on
infectious diseases".
Glenn Gentry
gentry at fiona.umsmed.edu
