Lake Zurich Declares Rotary World Polio Day

This week, the Village of Lake Zurich issued a proclamation designating Sunday October 24 as Rotary International World Polio Day.

The proclamation recognizes Rotary International and the Lake Zurich Rotary Club for its efforts to eradicate polio from the earth. In 1985, when Rotary's PolioPlus initiative was launched, there were 350,000 cases of polio each year in 125 counties. Today that total has dropped to less than 50 cases annually in just two countries.

Rotary has contributed more than $2 billion to combat polio since then and countless volunteer hours. It is estimated at more than 1.5 million people are alive today who would have died of this nervous system disease that can cause total paralysis in hours. Many of the most vulnerable people are under age 5. Polio cannot be cured but it can be prevented by a cheap and effective oral vaccine.

The Rotary Club of Lake Zurich is also recognized in the proclamation as a "fervent supporter of global polio eradication for many years." For more information: www.lakezurichrotary.org.