His two-year assignment from CDC to UCSF began in July 2000, where he continues to develop vaccination and immunization programs in the least developed countries and advises the World Health Organization on issues related to polio eradication. Jon has made an extraordinary contribution to the great task of eradicating polio, especially in Latin America and India. Polio, once a devastating and feared disease in the United States, has been eradicated since 1991 from the Western Hemisphere. It still occurs relatively frequently in parts of Southern Asia and sub-Sahara Africa. Polio is an acute viral disease that occurs sporadically and in epidemics.
Sufferers have a fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, and often stiffness in the neck and back.
In severe cases, the virus enters the central nervous system causing paralysis. The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest award given to a Public Health Service commissioned officer. Such achievement may range from the management of a major health program to an initiative resulting in a major impact on the health of a nation. Copyright 2000 Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.