Presenter
Presented by Mr. Peduto
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WHEREAS, polio, a viral disease that can cause paralysis of the arms and legs, affect muscles of the respiratory system and throat, impairing speech, swallowing, and breathing, affected mainly children and young adults, up to the middle of the 20th century; and
WHEREAS, in the summer of 1952, a record number of polio cases, nearly 58,000, were recorded in the United States, with the most critically ill losing their lives, or becoming confined to a mechanical ventilator known as an iron lung, or crippled if they were not paralyzed; and
WHEREAS, it was against this dismal backdrop that the first polio vaccine was developed by Jonas Salk, M.D. and his team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, Julius S. Younger, Sc.D, the only surviving scientist from Dr. Salk's core team, remains actively engaged in biomedical research at Pitt to this day; and
WHEREAS, between 1952 and 1954 in pilot trials, nearly 15,000 Pittsburgh residents, mostly children, received the Salk polio vaccine by injection, thus paving the way for an unprecedented nationwide trial; and
WHEREAS, when the results of the nationwide trial were announced on April 12, 1955, the vaccine was declared safe, effective and potent, with Newsweek Magazine declaring it a "summit moment in history"; and
WHEREAS, the Salk vaccine contributed to the eventual eradication of polio in the United States and throughout the rest of the world; and
WHEREAS; this year, the University of Pittsburgh will proudly mark the 50th Anniversary of the Salk vaccine's success by sponsoring several special events, including a salute to Pittsburgh's own "polio pioneers," on April 10-12, 2005.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh salutes the core team formed by Dr. Jonas Salk, including Dr. Julius Younger, and the University of Pittsburgh, for nurturing the research climate that led to the eradication of one of mankind's dread diseases on this milestone 50th Anniversary of the development of the Salk vaccine.