The Guardian
http://www.guardiannews.com/
Accessed 10 May 2014

Outbreaks of disease and war: polio’s history with conflict
The World Health Organization has declared polio as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern; in the past Polio eradication brought warring nations together – might it do so again now?

Excerpt
Standing in line at the airport security last year, a poster caught my eye. “We are this close to ending polio”, Jackie Chan was saying, showing a small gap with his fingers. You could find Desmond Tutu, Jane Goodall, and Itzhak Perlman doing the same on billboards around the world. There was even a Gangnam Style version of the poster. A year later that small gap that celebrities were demonstrating with their hands seems to be widening, with a speed that now gives reason for alarm.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared polio as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 5, 2014. The number of cases has increased significantly this year and, according to the WHO, particularly in conflict-stricken areas, like the Middle-East and Central Asia. One of the main concerns is that the virus has re-appeared in areas where the disease had been eradicated. For instance, Syria was polio-free for 14 years until an outbreak started in 2013….

…In the 1950s and 60s, political and military conflict proved to be productive in preventing polio. Curbing the disease, which became particularly important in the Cold War, warranted international cooperation at a time of antagonism. Now, conflict is bringing polio back into the limelight, making it a significant international issue again. It remains to be seen if the charm can work twice, and collaboration can overcome the unfolding of new global epidemics.