About Polio
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious disease caused by the polio virus. It invades the nervous system, and can cause paralysis or even death in a matter of hours.
Poliovirus enters the body through the mouth, in water or food that has been contaminated with faecal material from an infected person. The virus multiplies in the intestine and is excreted by the infected person in faeces, which can pass on the virus to others.
Initial symptoms of polio are:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Stiffness in the neck
- Pain in the limbs
Polio mainly affects children under 5 years of age.
One in every 200 persons infected with polio leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs).
Among those paralysed, 5%-10% die when their breathing muscles are immobilized by the virus.
No, there is no cure for polio. Polio can only be prevented by immunization. Safe and effective vaccines exist – the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV).
About the global fight against polio
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious disease caused by the polio virus. It invades the nervous system, and can cause paralysis or even death in a matter of hours.
Poliovirus enters the body through the mouth, in water or food that has been contaminated with faecal material from an infected person. The virus multiplies in the intestine and is excreted by the infected person in faeces, which can pass on the virus to others.
Initial symptoms of polio are:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Stiffness in the neck
- Pain in the limbs
Polio mainly affects children under 5 years of age.
One in every 200 persons infected with polio leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs).
Among those paralysed, 5%-10% die when their breathing muscles are immobilized by the virus.
No, there is no cure for polio. Polio can only be prevented by immunization. Safe and effective vaccines exist – the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV).
About Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious disease caused by the polio virus. It invades the nervous system, and can cause paralysis or even death in a matter of hours.
Poliovirus enters the body through the mouth, in water or food that has been contaminated with faecal material from an infected person. The virus multiplies in the intestine and is excreted by the infected person in faeces, which can pass on the virus to others.
Initial symptoms of polio are:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Stiffness in the neck
- Pain in the limbs
Polio mainly affects children under 5 years of age.
One in every 200 persons infected with polio leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs).
Among those paralysed, 5%-10% die when their breathing muscles are immobilized by the virus.
No, there is no cure for polio. Polio can only be prevented by immunization. Safe and effective vaccines exist – the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV).