World Polio Day is observed on 24th October every year. It is a day to celebrate the achievements made in global polio eradication and also a day to reflect upon the urgent need for continued support and awareness of this global public health issue.
Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects children below 5 years of age. The virus is transmitted person to person mainly through the faecal oral route or through contaminated water or food. The virus multiplies in the intestine, from where it invades the nervous system and cause paralysis.
Symptoms of Polio
Polio in its most debilitating forms displays symptoms such as paralysis and death. However, most people with polio do not display any symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they depend on the type of polio.
Non-paralytic Polio
Paralytic Polio
The symptoms start in a similar way as in non-paralytic, but later progress to more serious symptoms such as:
There is no cure for polio, only treatment to alleviate the symptoms.
But the good news is that Polio can be prevented through immunization. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, almost always protects a child for life.
More Good News
Polio cases have decreased by over 99%. The major decline is the result of the global effort to eradicate the disease.
Prevention
99 per cent isn’t good enough, we must finish the job!
World Polio Day|Awareness|WHO
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