11 Facts About Polio (2024)

FAQs

How many polio killed? ›

At its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, polio would paralyze or kill over half a million people worldwide every year.

What causes polio? Polio is caused by a virus (poliovirus). Poliovirus infects your throat and intestines, causing flu-like symptoms. It can then spread to your brain and spine, causing paralysis.

How Long Does Polio Last? People who have milder polio symptoms usually make a full recovery within 1–2 weeks. People whose symptoms are more severe can be weak or paralyzed for life, and some may die.

Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)

IPV is produced from wild-type poliovirus strains of each serotype that have been inactivated (killed) with formalin.

Polio epidemics did not begin to occur until the latter part of the 19th century, but evidence indicates that polio is an ancient disease. A well-known stele from the 18th dynasty of ancient Egypt (1570–1342 bce) clearly depicts a priest with a telltale paralysis and withering of his lower right leg and foot.

Over 12 million people, worldwide have been affected by polio as indicated by the CDC. There is no central system for reporting post-polio syndrome, but it is estimated that 300,000 individuals are survivors of polio in the United States and have mild to severe symptoms.

As at 2022, endemic wild poliovirus type 1 remains in two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan.

There have been two new cases of WPV1 in Pakistan reported in 2024, both cases were detected in Balochistan province (Chaman and Dera Bugti districts). The significant increase in environmental detections have been sustained with 125 positive samples in 2023 and 34 positive samples to date in 2024.

Following acute infection and viremia, in about 1 percent of cases, poliovirus spreads to the central nervous system (CNS). Poliovirus preferentially replicates in and destroys motor neurons of the brainstem, spinal cord, and motor cortex, causing paralytic poliomyelitis [5,6,7].

In less than 1% of cases, polio causes permanent paralysis of the arms, legs or breathing muscles. Between 5% and 10% of people who develop paralytic polio will die. Physical symptoms may emerge 15 years or more after the first polio infection. These new symptoms are called the 'late effects of polio'.

What organ does polio infect? ›

Overview. Polio is an illness caused by a virus that mainly affects nerves in the spinal cord or brain stem. In its most severe form, polio can lead to a person being unable to move certain limbs, also called paralysis.

Polio is a debilitating and life-threatening disease. A virus that can affect the brain and spinal cord, polio can cause paralysis or even death.

How do you get polio? You can become infected with the polio virus if you come into contact with the poo (faeces) of someone with the infection, or with the droplets launched into the air when they cough or sneeze. You can also get the infection from food or water that's been contaminated with infected poo or droplets.

There is no cure for polio, only treatment to alleviate the symptoms. Heat and physical therapy is used to stimulate the muscles and antispasmodic drugs are given to relax the muscles. While this can improve mobility, it cannot reverse permanent polio paralysis. Polio can be prevented through immunization.

Three serotypes of poliovirus have been recognized as types 1, 2, and 3. The prototype strains are Brunhilde and Mahoney strains for type 1, Lansing and MEFI for type 2, and Leon and Saukett for type 3. Each of the viruses has been crystallized and studied in detail.

Polio is a debilitating and life-threatening disease. A virus that can affect the brain and spinal cord, polio can cause paralysis or even death. This makes polio very dangerous, especially for New Yorkers who are unvaccinated or not up to date with their polio immunizations.

Like many other infectious diseases, polio spreads from person-to-person through the ingestion of faecal matter, often in food and water.