Polio History

The History of Polio - How it began, the treatment of symptoms, how vaccines have been developed, distributed, and ultimately how the pieces of polio history came together, as was the mission of our friend, Daniel J. Wilson, PhD.

Articles & Resources

(Use the Index to search for specific topics)

Featured
Polio Network
Iron Lung Video, iron lung, breathing, polio history, video, Polio History Video
What it was like to live in an Iron Lung (Video)
Polio Network
Iron Lung Video, iron lung, breathing, polio history, video, Polio History Video

“Developed during the 1920s, the iron lung was invented to help individuals with polio breathe after their torso and abdominal muscles ceased to work. Improvements to the iron lung were made throughout the 20th century, but the almost-obsolete hospital device still looks a lot like a machine used in interrogations or a cruel medical tool.”

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Polio Network
Iron Lung Video, iron lung, breathing, polio history, video, Polio History Video
Polio Network
National History Day, Chloe, Daniela, Jonas Salk, polio vaccine, Carol Ferguson, Shirley Smith, Joe Randig, vaccine advocacy, advocacy, young advocates
“Jonas Salk - How the Polio Vaccine Changed Public Health”
Polio Network
National History Day, Chloe, Daniela, Jonas Salk, polio vaccine, Carol Ferguson, Shirley Smith, Joe Randig, vaccine advocacy, advocacy, young advocates

“Turning Points in History” was the theme for the 2024 National History Day Competition. We celebrate the work of Chloe and Daniela for their successful entry. “Jonas Salk: How the Polio Vaccine Changed Public Health”

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Polio Network
National History Day, Chloe, Daniela, Jonas Salk, polio vaccine, Carol Ferguson, Shirley Smith, Joe Randig, vaccine advocacy, advocacy, young advocates
Other Contributor
iron lung, polio history, BBC, Paul Alexander, Hannah Wunsch
How the Iron Lung Paved the Way for the Modern-Day Intensive Care Unit
Other Contributor
iron lung, polio history, BBC, Paul Alexander, Hannah Wunsch
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Other Contributor
iron lung, polio history, BBC, Paul Alexander, Hannah Wunsch
Polio Network
Jean Macnamara, polio vaccine, strain, unsung heroes, polio history, salk vaccine, Macnamara, Dame Annie Jean Macnamara
Dame Annie Jean Macnamara, MD
Polio Network
Jean Macnamara, polio vaccine, strain, unsung heroes, polio history, salk vaccine, Macnamara, Dame Annie Jean Macnamara
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Polio Network
Jean Macnamara, polio vaccine, strain, unsung heroes, polio history, salk vaccine, Macnamara, Dame Annie Jean Macnamara
Other Contributor
video, Tuskegee University, polio vaccine, polio history, salk vaccine, Polio History Video, Vaccine Video
"Untold Story About Black Children Who Had Polio and Were Treated.” (Video)
Other Contributor
video, Tuskegee University, polio vaccine, polio history, salk vaccine, Polio History Video, Vaccine Video

“Tuskegee University's critical role in treating Black children with polio and the first vaccine at the height of segregation." From ABC News

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Other Contributor
video, Tuskegee University, polio vaccine, polio history, salk vaccine, Polio History Video, Vaccine Video
Polio Network
iron lung, breathing, video, Mark Rockoff, MD, ventilators, ventilation, Iron Lung Video, Polio History Video
The Iron Lung and Polio (Video)
Polio Network
iron lung, breathing, video, Mark Rockoff, MD, ventilators, ventilation, Iron Lung Video, Polio History Video

"The Iron Lung and Polio" by Mark Rockoff, MD for OPENPediatrics

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Polio Network
iron lung, breathing, video, Mark Rockoff, MD, ventilators, ventilation, Iron Lung Video, Polio History Video
Polio Network
video, Daniel Wilson, history of polio, medical history, polio history
Daniel J. Wilson, PhD - Video Library
Polio Network
video, Daniel Wilson, history of polio, medical history, polio history
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Polio Network
video, Daniel Wilson, history of polio, medical history, polio history
Polio Network
video, Polio Australia, polio history, polio eradication, Polio Australia Video
Do People Exposed to Polio Live in My Community? (Video)
Polio Network
video, Polio Australia, polio history, polio eradication, Polio Australia Video

Do People Exposed to Polio Live in My Community? (Polio Australia Video)

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Polio Network
video, Polio Australia, polio history, polio eradication, Polio Australia Video

Polio’s Unsung Heroes

(Click on the lower right side of the Index Box to search for specific topics)

Video Archive
What it was like to live in an Iron Lung (Video)
What it was like to live in an Iron Lung (Video)
"Untold Story About Black Children Who Had Polio and Were Treated.” (Video)
"Untold Story About Black Children Who Had Polio and Were Treated.” (Video)
The Iron Lung and Polio (Video)
The Iron Lung and Polio (Video)
Staying Positive in the Face of Adversity - My Time Inside an Iron Lung (Video)
Staying Positive in the Face of Adversity - My Time Inside an Iron Lung (Video)
What Life Was Like Trapped Inside an Iron Lung (Video)
What Life Was Like Trapped Inside an Iron Lung (Video)
The Last Few Polio Survivors – The Last of the Iron Lungs (Video)
The Last Few Polio Survivors – The Last of the Iron Lungs (Video)
Salk Announcement - April 12, 1955 (Video)
Salk Announcement - April 12, 1955 (Video)
The Polio Crusade - Chapter 1 (Video)
The Polio Crusade - Chapter 1 (Video)
Hidden Figures in Polio History
Hidden Figures in Polio History
Why Haven’t We Eradicated Polio? (Video)
Why Haven’t We Eradicated Polio? (Video)
2022 New York Polio Case: Why and What Does It Mean? (Video)
2022 New York Polio Case: Why and What Does It Mean? (Video)
Major Epidemics: POLIO (Video)
Major Epidemics: POLIO (Video)