Polio

What is Polio?

Polio, full name Poliomyelitis, is a disease that can be highly severe and deadly and has been eradicated by most of the world in 2020. In 1988, an american polio eradicating goal was created to eradicate all cases of polio by the 2000, however, they did it in 1994. The last case of a wild poliovirus case reported in August 1991 in Peru, and on Nov 20, 1994, polio eradication has been certified. Other countries in Europe and Asia followed on, and in 1998, the last polio case of Europe took place in Turkey, and on June 21, 2002, the WHO declared that Europe eradicated polio. In 2017-2020, only 2 countries in the world, Pakistan and Afghanistan, had wild Polio cases, with other African countries only having the very rare Vaccine Derived Polio (cVDPV). There are 3 types of wild poliovirus - Type 1, 2 and 3. The last type 2 polio case was in October 24, 1999, and it has been certified globally eradicated on September 20, 2015. The last type 3 polio case was on November 10, 2012 in Nigeria, and has also been certified globally eradicated on October 24, 2019. Scientists are now working hard to eradicate Type 1 polio as well. Other than that, polio can also be abortive, nonparalytic or paralytic. Abortive polio and nonparalytic polio can still be found in the US, however it is extremely rare, and happens mostly to children with common and minor flu symptoms or at most, meningitis, that lasts for short periods of time, however, 1% of polio victims can develop paralytic polio and suffer from paralysis and long term to permanent damage after treated. 

Symptoms:

Non paralytic/Abortive:

- Fever and headache

- Sore Throat

- Vomiting

- Meningitis

Paralytic:

- Paralysis

- Severe spasms and pain

How is polio transmitted?

- Fecal-oral transmission

    Polio is transmitted when someone ingests an infected person's faeces. This can happen when an infected person serves food after taking a dump and not washing hands.

-Oral-oral transmission

    Oral-oral transmission via saliva is also possible but very rare.

Treatment:

- Rest

- Antibiotics

- Physical Therapy (Paralysis)

- Ventilators

- Painkillers

Prevention:

The polio vaccine is the most effective cure of polio. The polio vaccine has dropped 99% of polio cases, so remember to take all your polio shots!