REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Proclamation of World Polio Day
Report
BACKGROUND
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a crippling and potentially deadly disease caused by the polio virus. There is no cure for polio; it can only be prevented by immunization. Polio mainly affects children under 5 years of age. 1 in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis. Among those paralyzed, 5% to 10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized. Cases due to wild poliovirus have decreased by over 99% since 1988, from an estimated 350 000 cases then, to 33 reported cases in 2018.
DISCUSSION
In 1985, Rotary International (Rotary) launched PolioPlus, and in 1988, Rotary helped establish the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which today includes the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to immunize the children of the world against polio. To date, Rotary has contributed more than $1.9 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. Rotary is working to raise an additional $50 million per year, which would be leveraged for maximum impact by an additional $100 million annually from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
As a Special Order of Business, the City Council will recognize Rotary's commitment and long-standing efforts toward the eradication of polio and will proclaim October 24, 2019 as World Polio Day.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is an information report only and no action is being taken by the City Council and no environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") is required.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City other than staff time.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the Cit...
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