The Polio Crusade: A Journey Through History

The video explores the polio outbreak in Wytheville, Virginia, during the summer of 1950. It highlights the impact on the community, personal stories of those affected, and the national significance of the disease, including Franklin D. Roosevelt's battle with polio. The narrative delves into scientific discoveries about polio transmission and the challenges of fundraising for research and support during the Great Depression.

What percentage of Wytheville's population was under 18 during the outbreak?

• 50%

• 40%

• 30%

• 25%

Which two cities were mentioned as destinations for the ambulance services during the outbreak?

• Charlottesville and Chesapeake

• Roanoke and Richmond

• Lexington and Lynchburg

• Norfolk and Newport

What year did the significant polio outbreak occur in Wytheville?

• 1948

• 1960

• 1950

• 1952

What was a common symptom of polio as described in the video?

• Sneezing

• Skin rash

• Coughing

• Muscle weakness

Who was a prominent figure that contracted polio and later worked to combat the disease?

• Franklin Delano Roosevelt

• Dwight D. Eisenhower

• Winston Churchill

• Harry S. Truman

What did FDR establish to help rehabilitate polio patients?

• The New York Polio Network

• The Roosevelt Rehabilitation Center

• The Virginia Health Institute

• The Georgia Warm Springs Foundation

What role did Basil O'Connor play in the fight against polio?

• He was a doctor treating polio patients

• He led a foundation raising funds for polio

• He was a mayor who enforced health policies

• He was a scientist who developed a vaccine

What was the primary way polio spread among people?

• Direct skin contact

• Contaminated water and food

• Insect bites

• Airborne particles

How did improved sanitation paradoxically lead to more polio cases?

• It caused water sources to become contaminated

• Children were exposed to the virus later in life

• It led to overcrowding in urban areas

• It weakened people's immune systems

What innovative approach did O'Connor decide to adopt to raise funds for polio?

• Organizing nationwide marathons

• Launching a door-to-door campaign

• Starting a new government tax

• Trying something bold and new