At the time, little was known about this mysterious disease that paralyzed and sometimes killed young children. A nationwide polio epidemic began in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Polio - Polio - Polio through history: Polio epidemics did not begin to occur until the latter part of the 19th century, but evidence indicates that polio is an ancient disease. Polio Season. The first major polio epidemic in the United States hit Vermont in 1894 with 132 cases. In September 1955, Boston Children’s then-president P.D. The United States experienced multiple polio epidemics, but its worst was in the early 1950s. Polio reached epidemic proportions in the early 1900s in countries with relatively high standards of living, at a time when other diseases such as diphtheria, typhoid, and tuberculosis were declining. The fear of polio gripped the nation with fear and anxiety in a way that few had seen before. By Carl Kurlander, University of Pittsburgh April 2, 2020 1:30 PM. For much of the twentieth century, the months of July, August, and September were known as “polio season.” The earliest known case of polio in the United States was reported in Vermont in 1894. Outbreaks occurred regularly in the United States through the 1950s, with two major polio outbreaks in 1916 and in 1952. A larger outbreak struck New York City in 1916, … Howe wrote, “Hope grows that the end of this epidemic of 1955 may be in sight … 1) When was the polio epidemic at its worst in the United States? It infected 57,000 people, paralyzed 21,000 and killed 3,145. The worst polio outbreak in U.S. history struck in 1952, the year after Offit was born. Epidemics grew worse as the years passed. Of the 57,628 reported cases in 1952 , there were 3,145 deaths. The disease was very well publicized during the polio epidemics of the 1950s, with extensive media coverage of any scientific advancements that might lead to a cure. New York City suffered the first major polio epidemic in 1916, resulting in 2,300 deaths. A well-known stele from the 18th dynasty of ancient Egypt (1570–1342 bce) clearly depicts a priest with a telltale paralysis and withering of his lower right leg and foot. Of … Polio campaign of the 1950s is a sound model for what America needs for COVID-19 The March of Dimes won public trust for the polio vaccine. Indeed, many scientists think that advances in hygiene paradoxically led to an increased incidence of polio. Polio, once the most feared of diseases, is about to be eradicated. Thus, the scientists working on polio became some of the most famous of the century. In 1952, an outbreak reached immense proportions. The Deadly Polio Epidemic and Why It Matters for Coronavirus Polio was nearly eradicated with the Salk vaccine in 1955. 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