What Is Polio?

Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. Before mass vaccination was available, the virus most commonly affected children under the age of 5. The virus typically spreads through contaminated water, and when it infects someone, it can attack their nervous system, potentially leading to paralysis.

The first suspected depiction of polio dates back to 1580-1350 B.C., with an Egyptian stele showcasing a priest with a withered leg, suggesting the presence of polio even thousands of years ago. However, it wasn’t until 1789 when Dr. Michael Underwood tried recording polio’s first known clinical description.

In 1931, several types of the polio virus were discovered and identified as types 1, 2, and 3.

1952 saw a massive polio outbreak, where many infected children spent weeks or decades in “iron lungs.” Also known as the tank respirator, the iron lung is a life-saving device created in 1927 that helped keep these individuals breathing by changing the pressure inside a rectangular metal box, pulling air in and out of the lungs.

A little more than 20 years after identifying the virus responsible for polio, in 1955, the first polio vaccine was developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, for which he used an inactivated poliovirus. In 1961 a “live” oral vaccine was developed, quickly becoming the vaccine of choice for most places around the world.

Worldwide drives to increase polio vaccination became a focus, and since 1988, polio cases have been reduced by 99%.

Symptoms Of Polio

Most individuals infected by polio will not have any visible symptoms.

For around 1 in 4 people with polio, they will develop flu-like symptoms, such as:

• fever
• sore throat
• nausea
• tiredness
• stomach pain
• headache

Usually, these symptoms last for 2-5 days before going away on their own.

A smaller group of those infected with polio will develop more severe symptoms affecting the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis (infection of the spinal cord and/or brain) can occur in 1-5 out of 100 people infected with polio, depending on the virus type.

A rarer complication of polio infection is paralysis, which can occur in 1 out of 200-2,000 cases. It is typically a paralysis or weakness of the arms or legs and can lead to permanent disability or even death.

Why Is Polio Returning?

Despite the number of polio cases being significantly lower than in the past, any unvaccinated person is still at risk of becoming infected. As the vaccination rate against polio becomes poorer, the risk of contracting polio increases.

This was seen in international headlines when in August 2022, New York State in the United States saw its first case of polio since 2013. Even more, it was a young adult infected and partially paralyzed by the disease, not a child.

Polio is also being found in other developed countries, with scientists in London recently detecting polio viruses in sewage when completing a routine inspection. The early detection helped to mount a quick public health response, such as booster shots for children between the ages of 1 and 9. However, not all countries monitor for polio as closely, which is why it is often undetected until someone is paralyzed.

There is currently no cure for polio, so vaccination is crucial to protect yourself and the people around you. However, parents unafraid of polio are sometimes opting out of vaccinating their children. Polio is always a risk, though, even in currently polio-free countries, as seen in the recent United States appearance.

In 2021, the World Health Organization reported that 80% of infants worldwide received all three doses of the polio vaccine. However, this leaves 20% of children still at risk of contracting this dangerous virus, and this number is continuing to rise.

Protecting Yourself from Polio When Traveling

Before traveling, it is crucial to determine if the location you are traveling to has a risk of polio. If it does and you or your children are not vaccinated or it was done many years ago, it is recommended to get the vaccine. Furthermore, children should receive all polio vaccine doses before traveling.

For adults, booster doses are available for anyone who has already received all the recommended doses of the polio vaccine.

As for recommendations while traveling, it is important to eat and drink safely, which includes drinking only water that has been disinfected, boiled, or is in a commercially sealed bottle. Additionally, eat only food that has been well-cooked and served hot.

Good hand hygiene is also important, so be sure to wash your hands frequently with soap and running water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Your Role in The Fight Against Polio

Polio is a highly infectious disease that has terrified countries for centuries, but we now have the ability to protect ourselves against it. The polio vaccine is the best way to ensure you and your children are safe from this disease, and is especially important for anyone traveling to a country where polio is a risk. However, the vaccine is recommended for anyone, who has never done it before. Taking the proper precautions against polio as cases begin rising is the best way to protect yourself, your children, and your community.

References

1. Poliomyelitis. (2022). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/poliomyelitis
2. The Iron Lung and Other Equipment. (2021). https://americanhistory.si.edu/polio/how-polio-changed-us/iron-lung-equipment
3. GPEI-History of Polio. (2022). https://polioeradication.org/polio-today/history-of-polio/
4. Immunization coverage. (2022). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/immunization-coverage