March 26, 1953
Salk announces polio vaccine
On March 26, 1953, American medical researcher Dr. Jonas Salk announces on a national radio show that he has successfully tested a vaccine against poliomyelitis, the virus that causes the crippling disease of polio. In 1952--an epidemic year for polio--there were 58,000 new cases reported in the United States, and more than 3,000 died from the disease. For promising eventually to eradicate the disease, which is known as "infant paralysis" because it mainly affects children, Dr. Salk was celebrated as the great doctor-benefactor of his time.
- more at www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=6848
March 26, 1953: Salk announces polio vaccine
Discussion in 'History Forum' started by KenH, Mar 26, 2009.