It was a sad start to the year with the loss of Bob Keegan, former deputy director of the Global Immunization Division at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who passed away on 16 January. We dedicate this issue to Bob, who was mentor and inspiration to many polio eradicators, with his courage, professionalism, grace and good humour. Rotary International is busy preparing for the organization’s birthday celebrations the week of 23 February. Once again, Rotarians around the world will mark the occasion by lighting up globally recognisable landmarks with the “End Polio Now” message.
While we wait for the final case count for 2011, we can look back over the year as one of mixed success and setbacks. One success will go into the history books: India has gone 12 months without reporting a case of polio. However, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria saw increases in cases compared to 2010. Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo made serious inroads against their re-established transmission, yet Chad continues to account for a high number of cases. Type 3 case numbers are down to lowest-ever levels, yet we suffered new outbreaks in five countries. Cases from outbreaks in previously polio-free areas declined significantly, but some outbreaks persisted such as that along the Uganda/Kenyan border.