LAPLACE — Polio cases have dropped by 99.9 percent since 1988, thanks in part to Rotary’s global efforts eradicate the infectious disease.

The Rotary Club of LaPlace raised $1,200 this month in honor of World Polio Day on Oct. 24. Funds will supplement Rotary International’s yearly $150 million contribution to raising awareness and support for polio eradication.

Local members hosted two auctions during Tuesday meetings at Sicily’s Italian Buffet in LaPlace and exceeded last year’s collection of $750. Each auction raised $500, amounting to a total of $1,000 for polio eradication.

Rotary Club of LaPlace President Gordon Taylor added $200 to the final amount. While he was not able to attend the auctions while recovering from an automobile accident, he said the entire group was pleased to have contributed to a worthy cause.

“Everyone had fun. They laughed a lot at the meeting, and they were able to get some great Christmas, birthday and holiday gifts,” Gordon said. “We want to show people there are still polio cases out there. It takes each and every one of us to be the solution to this problem and get this disease totally eradicated.”

In 1988, there were 350,000 cases in 1988 in 125 countries. By 2018, that number decreased to 33 cases of wild poliovirus in just two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Two of the three strains of wild poliovirus have been officially eliminated, according to a Wednesday announcement by global health officials. However, the fight is not over.

According to a report by the New York Times, in some regions, viruses used in the oral vaccine has mutated into a form that can be passed on in diapers and sewage. This has led to recent cases of paralysis in children. Though this has contributed to fear of the oral vaccine, full vaccination is the only protection against the mutant viruses.

According to an official statement from Rotary, “without full funding and political commitment, this paralyzing disease could return to polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk.”

Rotary Club of LaPlace members attended Tuesday’s Parish Council meeting and listened as chief administrative officer Laverne Toombs read a World Polio Day proclamation that had been signed by Parish President Natalie Robottom.

The proclamation detailed how Rotary International launched Polio Plus in 1985 and helped establish a global polio eradication initiative in 1988. That initiative now includes the World Health Organization, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and improvement, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

To date, Rotary has contributed more than $1.9 billion to ending polio. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledges to match Rotary’s donations 2-1 for an annual contribution of $150 million.

Rotary members Beverly Harris, Ronny Michel, Harry Glidden, Lucien Gauff and Artis Williams thanked administration for the proclamation.

“This is something that’s very important to us,” Williams said. “We’ve made incredible progress in this effort, and we are proud of the progress we’ve made today.”

Councilmen Larry Snyder and Tom Malik recalled a time when poliovirus was rampant.

“Once upon a time, there were rooms filled with iron lungs,” Malik said, referring to mechanical breathing treatments for patients who had muscle groups in the chest paralyzed by polio.

“It’s always good to hear when someone is fighting any disease that affects children,” Snyder added.

Rotary Club of LaPlace also sponsors projects to address critical issues such as poverty, hunger, illiteracy and environmental concerns.

Taylor said, “Service Above Self” is Rotary’s guiding motto.

“We meet the needs of people in our community and also internationally,” Taylor said.