Eradicating the crippling virus - Purging polio

THE world is tantalisingly close to finally eradicating the polio virus. A huge immunisation effort in 150 countries began yesterday to target the final areas of risk for fear it could spread again.

Success would make polio only the second human disease to be eradicated since smallpox was banished in 1980.

Few diseases frightened parents more in the first half of the 20th century. It was also called infantile paralysis, as it predominantly affected children under the age of five. Though most people recovered quickly, some suffered temporary or permanent paralysis or died.