# @who on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DUlBsdJEopF
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/64171598-who-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/bc5b0c3454.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-02-10T13:09:36.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) — https://gondola.cc/WHO

## Caption

Once upon a time... #polio was a disease without a vaccine.

The disease has existed since prehistoric times. Ancient Egyptian images show children walking with canes, with withered limbs characteristic of polio. Yet polio was only first clinically described in 1789 by British doctor Michael Underwood, and formally recognized as a condition in 1840 by German physician Jakob Heine.

Polio is a highly infectious disease that mainly affects young children. It attacks the nervous system and can lead to paralysis in a matter of hours. 

In the 20th century, scientific breakthroughs led to vaccines that changed the course of polio.

Since 1988, WHO and partners, including rotaryinternational, have helped reduce polio cases by 99%. The work continues in the countries still affected today.

Make sure children are fully vaccinated.
Together, we can make polio history. #VaccinesWork #EndPolio

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 4,272
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 61

## Tags

endpolio, vaccineswork, polio

---
Copyright (c) Gondola