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Poliomyelitis (/ ˌ p oʊ l i oʊ ˌ m aɪ ə ˈ l aɪ t ɪ s / POH-lee-oh-MY-ə-LY-tiss), commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. [1]
Oct 11, 2024 · Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease that largely affects children under 5 years of age. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous ...
Oct 22, 2024 · One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis. Among those paralysed, 5–10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized. Cases due to wild poliovirus have decreased by over 99% since 1988, from an estimated 350 000 cases in more than 125 endemic countries, to just two endemic countries.
Jun 20, 2024 · 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.
Nov 9, 2024 · Polio, acute viral infectious disease of the nervous system that has no known cure but can be prevented by a vaccine. Since the 1960s, thanks to widespread use of polio vaccines, polio has been eliminated from most of the world. Learn about the cause, symptoms, prevention, and history of polio.
Aug 16, 2020 · Polio can be prevented through immunization. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, almost always protects a child for life. The development of effective vaccines to prevent paralytic polio was one of the major medical breakthroughs of the 20th century.
May 9, 2024 · Polio was once one of the most feared diseases in the United States. Thanks to the polio vaccine, wild poliovirus has been eliminated in this country. The best way to keep people safe is through vaccination. This maintains a high level of protection (also called immunity) in the population.
Learn about polio in the United States and when to get a vaccine for yourself or your child.
Polio is a serious infection that's now very rare because of the vaccination programme. It's only found in a few countries and the chance of getting it in the UK is extremely low. Polio in the UK. There have been no confirmed cases of paralysis due to polio caught in the UK since 1984.
Key points. Poliovirus is highly contagious and causes polio, also called poliomyelitis, a serious and debilitating disease. Infection is more common in infants and young children. If you suspect polio, you should work with your state and local health department to order diagnostic testing.
