Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis
POLIO
Poliomyelitis popularly known as polio was first described by Michael Underwood in 1789. It is a
highly infectious viral disease which mostly affects children. The virus is transmitted from person to
person via fecal–oral route and less frequent by common vehicle route like contaminated water or
food. Polio is a member of the enteroviruses which are transient inhabitants of the gastrointestinal
tracts and stable at acid pH. The incubation period for poliomyelitis is 6 to 20 days with a range of 3
to 35 days. The preclinical phase of poliomyelitis varies from asymptomatic to presentation of mild
systemic symptoms ranging from pharyngitis or gastroenteritis thus it can mistake at the initial stage
as a minor infection. About 95% ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Therefore, the suspicion of polio as a differential diagnosis is mostly days after the onset of
symptoms. Isolation of the polio virus is principal to the diagnosis of the disease. The likelihood of
polio virus isolation is highest from stool specimen, intermediate from pharyngeal swabs and low
for blood and spinal fluids. Polio virus shedding can be intermediate and does increase the
probability of polio virus isolation. At least two stool specimens and two throat swab should be
obtained 24 hours apart from patients as early as it considered as a differential diagnosis. This is
ideally within the first 14 days after the onset of the onset of the disease. It is important to determine
whether the polio virus isolated is wild or vaccine related. Serologic test may be helpful in assisting
the diagnosis of paralytic poliomyelitis and acute serum specimen should be obtained as early in the
course of disease as possible, and a convalescent specimen should be obtained at least three weeks
later. Cerebral spinal fluid usually contains increased number of leucocytes and mildly elevated
protein. These findings are non–specific and may result in a variety of infections and non–infectious
conditions. Therefore, the best diagnostic test is a isolation of the polio virus from stool specimen
(Wallace and Oberste,
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Polio Research Paper
Ocean County College
Department of Biology
The Poliovirus
Submitted By,
Stephen Gorda
Date Submitted: 5–2–12
Course: Biology– 162
Instructor: Prof. Estelle Abstract The poliovirus is one of the most transmittable and most
contagious viruses that the human population has come in contact with. The structure of the
poliovirus allows it to be able to bind to motor neuron cells within a host's body and reproduce
quickly. Like all virus's, the poliovirus ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The similarity between the poliovirus and already solved plant virus's led to a better understanding
of how the poliovirus can regenerate within a host. Although the virus was similar to other plant
viruses. The poliovirus was covered with more elaborate loops that are the site of monoclonal
antibody escape mutations (Hogle, Chow and 229: 1358–1365Filman, Science). Individual proteins
of the virus particle are produced by proteolytic cleavages from a larger precursor, yet the amino and
carboxy–termini produced by proteolysis are very distinct. By noting this, Hogle and his team were
able to conclude that proteolysis was not just making a lot of proteins from one gene, it is also
controlling the timing of assembly (Hogle, Chow and Filman, Science 229: 1358–1365).
B. Signs and Symptoms: Approximately 95 percent of people who are infected with poliovirus will
not have any symptoms, however, people who are infected and do not have any polio indicators can
still spread the poliovirus. People who become infected with the poliovirus can start having
symptoms as soon as four days after being infected, and not have any symptoms for as many as
thirty five days. This time period between infection and experiencing symptoms is referred to as
"The Incubation Period," which is when the virus begins to multiply within the cells that line the
back of the throat, nose, and intestines("Signs and symptoms of Polio." eMedtv.com. Clinaero Inc.,
2006–2012. Sunday 4–22–12). For the

Polio Research Paper
Polio is an infectious disease caused by a special types of viruses. The United States Of America is
still at risk of introducing polio. A polio like illness has recently been discovered in California in
children that produces paralysis like in some polio patients. The last case of polio in The United
States Of America was in 1979. Polio is still a very high problem in Africa and Asia. Polio has also
been traced back almost 6,000 years ago.
Polio is caused by small viruses, RNA viruses to be exact. The viruses are members enterovirus
group of the Picornavirus family. The polio virus is known to attack the nervous system. There are 3
different types of polio viruses. Type one is responsible for about 85% of all paralytic infections. ...
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One of the main symptoms is muscle weakness and/or tiredness. Another symptom would be
vomiting. Another symptom is fatigue Also another symptom can possibly be joint pain. The rest of
the symptoms are headaches, nausea, fever, and sore throat.
If you already have polio there is no cure for it. If you take polio prevention vaccines. There are
three different types of vaccines. If you take theses vaccines the viruses could mutate. If the virus
mutates to where the vaccine doesn't work polio can possibly kill you even faster. You mainly want
to make sure that your kids and parents are vaccinated because they are most likely to get polio and
not survive.
Here are a couple more facts about polio that you might not know. Up to 90% of polio cases don't
even have symptoms. One in two–hundred people get paralysis from this disease. Five to ten percent
of paralyzed patients die. The viruses is found in saliva and feces of all of the patients that have
polio. Children five and under makeup for 50% of the polio cases but any age of people can get
polio. Polio cases have decreased more than 99% since 1988. Polio went from having three–hundred
and fifty thousand to only four hundred and sixteen. The first polio vaccine was made by Jonas Salk
in 1952 to try to prevent polio since there is no

Near Eradication of Polio
The eradication of polio was very close in the year 2012, however incidence levels has caused a
seventy percent increase in new cases [1]. In this paper I will argue that Canadian individuals do
have a moral obligation to support the effort of polio eradication using Singer's moderate principle
and John Stuart Mill's ethical theory of Act utilitarianism. Polio is virus infection that occurs in the
throat and intestines through environmental contaminations such as water by stool and feces [7]. The
virus in most cases occurs in children aged five and under and leads to the invasion of the nervous
system which can cause irreversible paralysis [12]. In 1988 a proposal called Global Polio
Eradication Initiative was put forward by the World Health Assembly to eradicate the disease which
included partners such as "WHO, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, and supported by key partners including the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation" [12]. Since this proposal, cases of polio have dropped from 350,000 yearly to a global
low of 223 cases in 2012 [1, 7]. Since 2012 "only parts of three countries in the world remain
endemic for the disease–the smallest geographic area in history" [12]. However, with only one
percent of the world infected with polio, it reappeared in countries and cases increased by seventy
percent [1]. Canadians should not take the matter lightly because the course of the disease can
change quickly. In an interview

Polio Or Poliomyelitis : An Infectious Disease That Is...
Polio or poliomyelitis is an infectious disease that is caused by the poliovirus. The poliovirus is a
virus that only infects humans and it lives in a person's throat, intestines and feces. The etiological
factors that are associated with polio are feces containing the virus, food and water contaminated by
fecal matter with the disease, and through the sneeze or cough of an infected individual. The
primary form of contracting polio is through fecal–oral transmission. A person can have feces on
their hand and can touch objects, that babies can put in their mouth, or can touch other human
beings, where the individual being touched may touch their mouth, overall spreading the disease.
This infectious disease is categorized by several symptoms, which include: fever, sore throat,
headache, fatigue, neck pain, back pain, muscle weakness, meningitis, and vomiting. However,
these symptoms only appear in the type of polio that doesn 't lead to paralysis and death, non
paralytic polio or abortive polio. These symptoms usually last for one to ten days. The most severe
type of polio infection is one that leads to paralytic polio. Paralytic polio can be classified in three
ways: spinal polio, in which the spine is the affected body part, bulbar polio, in which the brain is
affected by the virus, or bulbospinal polio, which affects both the brain and the spinal cord.
Symptoms of paralytic polio include: paralysis, loss of reflexes, and severe muscle aches or
weakness. Ultimately

The Erradication of Poliomyelitis: Inactivated Polio...
Introduction
Poliomyelitis, commonly known as "Polio", is an acute motor disease caused by the poliovirus that
targets the anterior horn cells of the human spinal cord, and in severe cases results in acute flaccid
paralysis (Alberta Health and Wellness, 2011), which can progress to permanent paralysis. It mainly
affects children under the age of five, although individuals of any age may contract it (World Health
Organization, 2013 [C]). Historical outbreaks, most prominently the 1916 and 1952 epidemics in the
United States, led to the development of two separate vaccines: Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), and
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). Although polio has seen over a 99% decrease in cases since 1988 and has
largely been eradicated in the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The grey matter has a butterfly–like shape with two protrusions: the dorsal (or posterior) horn,
which contains neurons responsible for sensory perception, and the ventral (or anterior) horn, which
contains neurons responsible for muscle control. There are two types of motor neurons: upper motor
neurons, located in the motor region of the cerebral cortex of the brain, and lower motor neurons,
located in the brainstem and spinal cord.
The muscular system, composed of 700 different muscles, makes up approximately half of a
person's body weight and is responsible for movement, posture, balance, and bodily heat generation
(Taylor, n.d.). Muscles are divided into three main categories: smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and
skeletal muscle. Smooth muscle makes up the inner walls of all organs and blood vessels. It is
controlled by the autonomic nervous system and is responsible for involuntary contractions of these
structures. Cardiac muscle, an involuntary striated muscle found exclusively in the heart, is
controlled by the sinoatrial node. Contraction of cardiac muscle allows for propulsion of blood
throughout the circulatory system, a process responsible for the transport of oxygen and nutrients to
bodily cells. Skeletal muscle, a voluntary striated type of muscle that is composed of all muscle
connecting to the skeleton, is responsible for the majority of the heat generated by the muscular
system and

Three hundred and sixty feces samples were collected from...
Three hundred and sixty feces samples were collected from children and infants who have diarrhea
and other symptoms that associate with Acute Flaccin Paralysis (AFP) from middle and southern
provinces of Iraq. They were equal or less than four years old. Preliminary culture shows total
samples that gave positive to poliovirus were 19 samples and number of samples that have
poliovirus type I were (6), type II (3) and type III (6), number of samples that have mix types of
poliovirus were (4). Confirmed results show the numbers of samples that contain type I, type II and
type III were 9,3and 10 in respectively and all viruses were sabin type only (There is no wild types
of poliovirus were isolated).
INTRODUCTION
Poliovirus belong to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
But the last associated with many problems, First the live oral polio vaccine is known to be able to
cause poliomyelitis in rare cases in both vaccines and their contacts (3). Second some
hypogammaglobulinemic patients are known to excrete virus for long periods of time, giving
opportunities for the virus to evolve to transmissible and virulent forms (9, 10). The aim of this
study is showing of presence of wild and sabin (vaccine of poliovirus) in stools of many cases of
children in Iraq and outbreak them.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Samples: Two – four grams of faces of 360 samples were collected from children and infants who
have diarrhea and other symptoms that associate with Acute Flaccin Paralysis (AFP). All samples
were collected from Al–Sadar learning hospitals in middle and south provinces of Iraq. The period
of collection (1–1–2006 to 1–7–2006) All samples were collected from patients have less than four
years old.
Preparation of fecal samples for virus isolation:
10 ml of Phosphate Buffer saline (PBS) PH 7.2, 1 gm of glass beads and 1 ml of chloroform were
added to each tube. The tubes were closed and shaken vigorously for 20 minutes using a mechanical
shaker. All tubes were spun for 20 minutes at 1500 g in a refrigerated centrifuge. Fecal suspensions
were stored at –20 ○C till using [11].
Virus isolation
Fecal suspensions were inoculated into tissue culture tubes of RD cells line (cells line derived from
human rhabdomyosarcoma) and into

A Brief Look at Poliomyelitis
Polio or poliomyelitis is a viral infection that normally affects kids below the age of 5years old. This
childhood killer disease has been around for my centuries. Polio was first discovered my Jacob
Heine in 1840 and later identified by Karl Landsteiner as poliomyelitis caused by polio virus from
the enteric family of viruses. The polio virus is acquired through oral–fecal transmission. The Latin
name simply means grey matter, and it is meaning inflation. There is a more serious form that can
spread to the brain called polio encephalitis. The world over have cerebrated for the almost
eradication of polio through improved sanitation, advancement in access to clean drinking water and
aggressive vaccination campaign. There are challenges in recent years because the polio virus has
re–emerged in places like Syria, Cameroun, Pakistan and Nigeria among others. In a CNN cable
television report the cases of polio in Syria in particular is alarming, there are 100s of new polio
cases due to failure of the health system because of a raging civil, sectarian war. The case of
Pakistan and Nigeria are of religious extremism where they belief the vaccines are causing harm to
their children. These are challenges faced with the eradication of this deadly childhood disease to
name a few. The problem is not limited to only these countries, even in the United States of America
are some Christian extremist who belief this vaccines makes their children sick. The world health
organization (WHO),

Polio ( Poliomyelitis ) Is A Contagious Illness Caused By...
Polio (Poliomyelitis) is a very contagious illness caused by the poliovirus. The poliovirus affects the
central nervous system, and is known and feared for causing paralysis (CDC, 2015). The virus is
contracted orally (through the mouth), from fecal matter (CDC, 2015): It first goes to the throat and
digestive system (CDC, 2015). Next it enters the lymphatic system, the bloodstream and finally the
Central Nervous System (CNS), were it can cause paralysis due to damage/destruction of the motor
neurons (CDC, 2015). Only people carry the poliovirus, and it only affects humans (CDC, 2015) No
cure, only prevention (CDC, 2015). Once someone has been in contact with the virus, it can take
anywhere from 3 to 35 days to notice symptoms (NYSDOH, 2014). Most people who contract polio
do not get sick (they don't show symptoms), but they can still pass the virus through stool and
spread it to other individuals (NYSDOH, 2014). Of the individuals who contract polio, only 4–5%
get the following symptoms: "headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, and muscle weakness"
(NYSDOH, 2014). 1–2% of people with polio develop "severe muscle pain and stiffness in the neck
and back" (NYSDOH, 2014). Paralysis caused by polio is very rare, of the total amount of
individuals who contract the virus, "less than 1%" become paralyzed (NYSDOH, 2014). Polio was
not addressed as a serious issue in Nigeria until the mid 1900's (Renne, 2010). When "Europeans"
(white people) in Nigeria began contracting the virus,

The Rampage of Polio
During the twentieth century Americans were afraid. They were afraid of the Russians, they were
afraid of the economy, they were afraid of Hitler, and they were afraid of polio. A disease as
indiscriminate as a nuclear bomb, it struck young and old, rich and poor, white and black. It caused
fear and hysteria, confusion and anger, paralysis, and even death. By this time the United States had
endured smallpox, cholera, yellow fever, and tuberculosis; but it had never experienced a wide–
spread epidemic of a disease that seemed to specifically target children before the twentieth century.
Although polio effects people of all ages, children are the most susceptible due to their weak
immune systems. Many victims of polio were partially or completely paralyzed, and thousands died.
The "summer plague" would run rampant in the United States for nearly four decades. Before the
1890's polio was fairly common but largely unknown. The disease was very common in early
history due to a lack of sanitation but because many people contracted the disease they developed
immunity to that strain at an early age. If the infected persons lived through the early infection they
were then immune to that particular strain of polio. This meant that in excess of 90% of some
populations were immune, while less than 0.5% were paralyzed due to polio. Evidence has been
found of polio in the ancient world. Some scientists believe hieroglyph depictions of people

Polio And Its Effects On Children
" I got it [polio] when I was a little girl. My parents watch as I slowed down and my hand stopped
working. We couldn't afford the surgery to fix it, but I finally better. But my hand is a constant
remember, but I refuse to let it stop me."(6) Poliomyelitis, deriving from Greek meaning grey and
marrow. Which more than likely refers to the spinal cord, along with the suffix –itis or
inflammation.(4) For a time, Poliomyelitis was once was called infantile paralysis because of its
primary effects on children; However, Poliomyelitis was later shortened into Polio.(4) Polio is an
extremely infectious disease caused by a virus that can attack the nervous system. The Polio can
survive and thrive in the throat and intestinal tract of it's host.(5) It's most often spread through
personal contact with the excrement of an infected person.(5) Also, it is possible that the virus may
be spread through bodily fluids, such as saliva. While 95 percent of persons infected by the
poliovirus will have no symptoms;(4) four to eight percent of infected with the polio virus have
minor symptoms such as: Fever, Fatigue, Nausea, Headache, Flu–like symptoms, Stiffness in the
neck and back, and Pain in the limbs.(5) These symptoms will usually subside after 2 to 5 days.
However, a small group with polio will develop very serious symptoms such as Paresthesia, which
feeling of needles in the legs. Or Meningitis, which infects the covering of the spinal cord and or the
brain. However, this only affects

Viral Infectious DiseasesPolio or Poliomyelitis
INTRODUCTION
Poliomyelitis is a viral infectious disease that is transmitted through mainly the oral fecal route. The
disease has been with mankind since time in memorial although epidemics were unknown before the
20th century. The disease has caused millions of deaths and paralysis for much of human history.
NATURAL HISTORY OF POLIOMYELITIS
The name poliomyelitis is derived from ancient Greek were polio means grey and myelos meaning
marrow referring to grey matter of spinal cord. Ancient paintings recovered in Egypt depicits an
Egyptian stele though to represent a polio victim from the 18th dynasty which was from 1403 to
1365 BC. The disease had different names in early medical communities such as infantile spinal
paralysis, paralysis of the morning, regressive paralysis and myelitis of the anterior horns
The first clinical description of polio was given in 1789 by a British physician call Micheal
underwood who referred to the disease as debility of the lower extremities. Karl Oskar medin in
1890 was the first to study polio epidemic empirically however Jakob Heine in 1840 made the first
medical report on polio hence the disease became known as Heine–medin disease. By the early
1900s polio has reached epidemic proportion in countries were living standards were relatively high.
This was at a time when other diseases such as tuberculosis, typhoid were on the decline.
Paradoxically it is though that the rise in hygiene standards has led to a rise in

Reducing Deaths from Infectious Disease in Austrailia
Improvements to Australia's mortality rates from infectious diseases over the last century
Introduction
Over the last century, the mortality rate from infectious diseases in Australia has declined
significantly3. Along with highly successful research to develop effective vaccines, public health
campaigns have contributed substantially to this outcome. Organisations such as the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF have been heavily involved in finding vaccines to treat these
diseases and promoting education and community health initiatives23. Amongst the many infectious
diseases prominent in Australia in the 20th century, Poliomyelitis (Polio) was considered the most
terrifying of diseases, as the "prospect of paralysis and permanent disability" was particularly
frightening2. Public authorities and Australian community organisations such as Rotary4 have been
critical to the success of national campaigns to educate, coordinate and fund vaccination programs.
However, although Australia was finally declared a "polio free zone" in 2000, the disease is still a
threat to travellers as it is considered endemic in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria5.
Infectious disease
According to WHO, an infectious disease is an "illness caused by bacteria that can spread between
people or from animals to people", and has the "potential to cause long term or more serious
effects"2. Some of the most deadly infectious diseases that have had the most significant effects

The Epidemic Of Indi A Country Where Multiple Cultures And...
Introduction
India is a country where multiple cultures and identities live wih the notion of "unity in diversity" .
also due to the distinct geographical, economical and ecological conditions , probability of influence
of certain disease in various areas is probably high. One such endemic disease is poliomyelitis. A
few years back India was in the list of endemic countries for poliomyelitis as announced by WHO
(excluded from the list in 2012). The highly contagious disease has been a curse from past decades
to the population especially children below 5 years of age. In india the majorly affected areas were
the 107 blocks of western uttar Pradesh and bihar, where the major challenge is overcoming
suboptimal vaccine efficacy. In districts of western uttar Pradesh which still remains endemic for
polio, lower levels of sanitation and personal hygiene remains a concerned topic for the public
health officials, low rate of immunization and fear of spreading the polio virus, an efficient network
of various national and international agencies was formed to control and eradicate polio from this
region and help india to be declared as polio free .with continous efforts of this network the
residents are now appraising and adapting the vaccination programmes for polio, which in itself is
breakthrough achievement of the pulse polio eradication programme. Now new initiatives such as
USHA project started in 107 blocks aiming to improve water quality, personal hygiene and

Taking a Look at Poliomyelitis
Polio which may also be called poliomyelitis is a viral disease that can be spread or transmitted from
individual to individual mainly through the fecal–oral route. The word polio is of Greek origin
"polios" meaning grey and "myelos" meaning marrow which refers to the grey particle of the spinal
cord. It is noted that about 90% of polio infections are asymptomatic but affected patients can show
an amount of if the virus enters their blood circulation. In rare cases, the virus can enter the central
nervous system which could lead to the destruction of some motor neurons which automatically
causes muscle weakness and possible flaccid paralysis. Polio may occur in three different forms:
Spinal polio: this is the most commonly noted form of polio characterized by paralysis most often
involves the lower limbs (legs). Bulbar polio: this kind of polio could be very severe and can lead to
muscle weakness (muscles innervated by the cranial nerves). Bulbospinal polio: this is the
combination of spinal and bulbar paralysis. HISTORY Polio was first discovered as a coition by
Jakob Heine in 1840. The virus known to cause this disease or infection is the POLIOVIRUS which
was first noticed in 1908 by Karl Landsteiner. Major polio epidemics started to appear in the late
19th century in Europe. Polio soon became one of the most occurring childhood diseases in the 20th
century. Proper hygiene and sanitation decreased the prevalence of this disease in young children
which are likely to

Dbq Essay On Polio
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a disease that attacks the nervous tissue in the spinal cord and the brain stem
resulting in paralysis (Document One). Polio is caused by the poliovirus, but it is unknown how this
virus is acquired. The virus enters the digestive tract and stays in the intestines for up to eight weeks,
and then attacks the lymphatic system, the blood stream and eventually travels to the brain and spine
(Document Four). Once it is infected in one's body, the disease is highly contagious and can be
spread through contact of saliva, food, germs, or feces (Document Two). "The poliovirus causes
most of its infections in the summer and fall. At one time, summer epidemics of polio were common
and greatly feared" (Document Four). This may

A Research Study On Poliomyelitis
David Caballero
December 1, 2014
Pre–AP English 1
Ms. Cooper
Poliomyelitis has been around for a long time but the first clinical description of the disease was in
1789, by an English physician named Michael Underwood. The death–to–case ratio is 2%–5% in
children and 15%–30% for adults. Even though the number of deaths of Polio have come to a
screeching halt 3,145 people died in 1952 due to the worst outbreak in the United States's history.
Poliomyelitis poses a minimal yet dangerous threat to humanity. Researchers and scientists have
been largely successful in finding a cure for this disease. Looking to the future, the biggest concern
is the eradication of this disease to be slowed. The effects of this disease are very harmful but are
not easily transmitted. There are three different types of infections which include subclinical,
nonparalytic, and paralytic. Patients with subclinical polio may not have any symptoms or have mild
symptoms that may last 72 hours or less. A few symptoms that can result in the subclinical polio
infection can be general discomfort or uneasiness, headache and slight fever, or red throat, slight
throat, and lastly vomiting. (NIH). Then patients who have managed to contract nonparalytic polio
will not become paralyzed if they are infected with it. Some symptoms can be fever, sore throat,
headache, vomiting, meningitis, and fatigue. While it may vary a few more serious symptoms can be
back pain or stiffness, neck pain or stiffness, pain or

What Is Poliomyelitis?
Poliomyelitis Polio
Poliomyelitis is an infectious viral disease that affects the central nervous system and can cause
temporary or permanent paralysis. The name poliomyelitis comes from the Greek poliós (πολιός)
which means 'grey', myelós (µυελός) which refers to the spinal cord. The suffix of '–itis' which
indicated inflammation.
Polio is caused by the pathogen poliovirus. Poliovirus is part of the group IV ((+)ssRNA).Order:
Picornavirales, Family: Picornaviridae, Genus: Enterovirus, Species: Enterovirus C. It is a virus,
making polio a viral disease.
Polio is transmitted by direct contact with other people, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
99% of worldwide cases have been eliminated with only two countries still in the grips of polio, but
even these two countries only have a few hundred cases each year and that number is decreasing.
In 1988, at the Forty First World Health Assembly, the GPEI (Global Polio Eradication Initiative)
was launched. It was led by national governments, WHO (Wold Health Organisation), Rotary
International, UNICEF and many others. Since the launching of the GPEI, there has been a decrease
in the number of polio cases by 99%. Only two countries still are facing polio. They are Pakistan
and Afghanistan and every year the number of cases in both decreases.
Polio is being prevented through the usage of immunisations. In the 1950s American researcher,
Jonas Salk discovered that the poliovirus could be inactivated by using the chemical formaldehyde.
He used this information to create a vaccine. This vaccine was tested in 1954 using hundreds of
thousands of children. One batch of this vaccine hadn't been made properly and several became sick
or died. When the manufacture had improved, the vaccine was able to reduce the amount of polio
cases. Polish–American doctor, Albert Sabin tested an alternate vaccine which used weakened
viruses. This vaccine could be taken by mouth rather than being taken by injection. This version of
the vaccine was cheaper

Is Poliomyelitis A Non Curable Viral Disease?
Poliomyelitis is a non–curable viral disease that mainly affects children who under five years old. It
is a highly infectious disease, which is transmitted mainly through the fecal oral route and less
frequently through contaminated water or food.[1][2] Virus transmission is correlated with areas
where water quality, sanitation and hygiene are poor.[3] The virus enters through the human
gastrointestinal tract and proliferates in the intestines. Some of the initial symptoms of infection
include: fever, malaise, headache, vomiting, nuchal rigidity, and pain in the limbs. The poliomyelitis
virus can possibly even invade the nervous system and cause paralysis; this occurs in approximately
one in two hundred infections.[4]
Polio reached the height of its pandemic proportions in the first half of the nineteenth century.[2]
The creation of the first safe and effective poliovirus vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk in 1955 made
immediate and profound impacts in the incidence of disease. For example, in the United States two
years prior to the development of the vaccine, the average number of polio cases was greater than
45,000. In 1962, just seven years after the advent of vaccination, that number diminished to 910.[2]
The effectiveness of the vaccine soon prompted health officials to extend the application of
immunization worldwide. In 1988, the World Health Assembly resolved to eradicate poliomyelitis
by the year 2000 and by 1999, global incidence of the disease dropped by approximately

The Epidemic Of Polio During The Egyptian Era
From the late Egyptian era to the early 1900's, humans were perplexed about why people were
suddenly getting paralyzed without warning. It wasn't until research skills and technology
accessibility improved that scientists were able to grasp the idea that it was all caused by the
Poliomyelitis virus. Polio began ravaging through the world in the twentieth century, crippling
children, and, even after the discovery of numerous vaccines, is still relentless enough that it infects
children today. Poliomyelitis, also called "infantile paralysis" (Swanson 1), is a virus that has been
around for over 3,000 years, but had troubled scientists right up until the early 1900s when they had
the resources to fully research it. This virus is part of the enterovirus division, meaning it attacks
through oral ingestion and gains access to the body along the gastrointestinal tract (the tract that
leads from the mouth to the anus). From the G.I. tract, it then enters the blood, through which it
travels to and attacks the nervous system. Once the virus fully destroys a neuron, the neuron then
cannot regenerate and therefore ends the connection between the other neurons around it. This left
the infected hosts with twisted limbs, extreme muscle pain and spasms, and, in extremely severe
cases, the inability to perform vital life functions. Polio can be classified into three different types,
depending on which part of the nervous system it decides to attack. Spinal Poliomyelitis was the
most

Polio : A Infectious Viral Disease
1.0 Understanding Biology
1.1 Introduction
Poliomyelitis, also known as Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that directly invades the
nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis (WHO, 2015). The causative agent for Polio is
the poliovirus, which is a single strand RNA. Polio is transmitted through faecal–oral contact and is
usually found in places with very low sanitation (Victoria State Gov. 2007). Another mode of
transmission is coming into direct contact with someone who is infected (Polioeradication.org,
2010).
Figure 1 – Diagram of poliomyelitis
1.2 Symptoms and Effects on the Body
Polio is classified by two different categories, symptomatic and asymptomatic. Asymptomatic polio
is the most common case of this disease and it displays no symptoms of the disease being present
(Cdc.gov, 2014). Symptomatic polio displays symptoms of the disease but can be broken down into
mild forms which is called nonparalytic or abortive polio or paralytic polio which is the severest
case possible (MNT, 2015). In symptomatic cases of polio you can often experience fevers, head
aches, vomiting and discomfort and pain in the limbs as well as difficulty breathing (WHO 2015).
The poliovirus can cause many negative effects on the body including paralysis. The virus invades
and attacks the nervous system of the infected person and causes irreversible damage.
1.3 Treatment and Prevention
Although there is no treatment to cure polio there is treatment to be able to

The Bubonic Plague: The Polio Vaccine
"The single biggest threat to man's continued dominance on the planet is the virus" Nobel Prize
winner Joshua Lederberg once said. Throughout history, this statement has proved to be true. In
fourteenth century Europe, the Bubonic Plague killed off almost half of the European population.
During the first interactions between Columbus and the natives, Smallpox eradicated entire Native
tribes. And in the time of the Industrial Revolution, cholera outbreaks have left millions dead. Since
their outbreaks, many of these deadly viruses have been met with cures, saving millions of lives to
come. However, for almost 3,500 years, one incurable virus had been attacking humanity: the
poliovirus.1P
Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a disease caused by the contraction of the poliovirus. Like
influenza, smallpox and cholera, polio is a viral infection. This means that it is a disease caused by
the spread of a virus. It spreads rapidly, and usually through person–to–person contact. In addition,
this virus can also be distributed through foods or drinks contaminated by infected fecal matter.
Although polio is deadly, sometimes, contractors of polio do not show any symptoms. The ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In 1947, the NFIP was looking for someone capable in researching a polio vaccine, and there was no
candidate better for this research than Dr. Jonas Salk.7P Salk was a very experienced researcher; he
played a crucial role in the development of influenza vaccines during World War II, and also had a
deep understanding of the immune system and antibodies.8B Additionally, Salk also worked to treat
multiple sclerosis, cancer, and HIV.9C Together, in the 8 years that followed after recruitment, Salk
and the NFIP would take a stand against polio by successfully trying to put an end to polio through
the use of

Polio Literature Review
Critical Review – provide a literature review of the public health significance of the health issue
talked about in the case study. Please use 6–8 references and include them in a separate reference
page (750–1000 words).
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is an infectious disease that manifests as a variety of symptoms, the most
severe of which is paralysis which can lead to permanent disability and death. Some people show no
symptoms at all. Children who recover from polio at a young age may develop new symptoms later
in life ("CDC Global Health – Polio – What Is Polio?," n.d.). Polio was considered a disease of
developed countries for much of the 1900s. However, in the 1960s and 1970s, prevalence of polio in
schoolchildren in developing countries across the world was found to be much higher than in the
United States (Modlin, 2010). By 2000, polio has been mostly eradicated around the world, with the
number of cases having fallen by more than 99%. Today, there are only a few countries that still
have new cases of polio each year and the total number of reported polio cases is, on average, less
than 100 each year ("CDC Global Health – Polio – Updates on CDC's Polio Eradication Efforts –
March 18, 2016," n.d.). Vaccination exists for polio, with two forms currently in use. The live
poliovirus vaccination is more effective and widely used in endemic regions, while the inactive
vaccination is used in areas where polio has been eradicated (Modlin, 2010).
Polio and the history of

A Brief Look at Polio
INTRODUCTION Polio is a viral infectious disease transmitted via the faecal–oral route. It is a
dreaded disease especially in children, it results in infantile paralysis. Polio has no cure causing
great concern due to significant morbidity and mortality. Despite global efforts to eradicate Polio, it
is still endemic in parts of the world. This paper discusses the global problems posed by the disease,
eradication strategies employed globally and regionally and the challenges in the way of achieving a
world without Polio. HISTORY Polio dates to before the 20th century when first cases of epidemics
were clinically reported. In fact, an Egyptian carving which dates back to around 1400BC depicts a
priest with a paralysed leg similar to Polio victims. In the year 1789, a British doctor, Michael
Underwood, described Polio as "debility of the lower extremities" (www.polioeradication.org). In
1840, a German doctor, Jacob von Heine established the disease may be contagious. In 1894, in
USA, the first significant Polio outbreak in infants was documented. In 1907, a Swedish doctor, Ivar
Wickman, identified different types of Polio infection and in 1908; two Austrian physicians
Landsteiner and Popper inferred that Polio is a viral infection. Several years later, research actions
were launched and in 1955, the first vaccine against the disease was created by Dr Jonas Salk.

What Is Poliomyelitis?
WHAT IS POLIO?
Poliomyelitis or polio, is highly contagious viral infection that can lead to abnormal conditions such
as paralysis, breathing problems, or even lead to death. The poliomyelitis is from the word "grey",
myelos referencing to the "matter" of the spinal cord, –itis meaning inflammation. So it means the
inflammation of the grey matter of the spinal cord.
Poliomyelitis can be categorize as either asymptomatic or symptomatic. About 95% of all cases of
poliomyelitis display no symptoms (asymptomatic poliomyelitis) but between 4% to 8% of cases of
poliomyelitis display symptoms (symptomatic poliomyelitis). Nonparalytic or abortive poliomyelitis
and a severe form of polio called paralytic can occur 0.1% to 2% of cases symptomatic polio. Polio
occurs most frequently in the summer and children under years of age are most vulnerable.
Nonparalytic polio (abortive polio) can lead to flu–like symptoms that last for a few days , weeks, or
months, such as sore throat, fever, fatigue, meningitis, muscles spasms, muscle tenderness,
headache, arm and leg stiffness, neck and back pain, and vomiting.
Paralytic polio be classified as:
1. Spinal polio– which attacks motor neurons in the spinal cord and causes paralysis in arms and
legs and causes breathing problems too.
2. Bulbar polio– which attacks

The Global Eradication of Polio Essays
The Global Eradication of Polio
The possibility of the eradication of polio worldwide is an imminent and exciting prospect as the
"goal" year quickly approaches. In 1988, the World Health Assembly, which governs the World
Health Organization, set the goal of eliminating polio from the world by the year 2010. Many
organizations have joined the effort along with the World Health Organization: the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, Rotary International, Global Health Network, the US
Agency for International Development, National Immunization Day, and the International
Broadcasting Bureau. Together, these "worldwide polio partners" have implemented a strategy to
completely rid the world of this disease. It is a difficult ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The poliovirus enters the body through the mouth, and multiplies in the throat and intestines. It may
remain unmanifested for anywhere from four to thirty–five days. Once the virus is in the intestines it
has the potential to spread throughout the body by way of the bloodstream, and infiltrate into the
central nervous system. In the central nervous system, the virus can spread out along the nerve fibers
and begin to destroy the nerve cells, or motor neurons, resulting in limpness in the arms and legs.
This is known as acute flaccid paralysis and this symptom of polio (also a symptom of several other
diseases) is used to uncover new cases which may have been misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all
(WHO 1999). This is a necessary procedure in that it helps to cover all the bases in the pursuit of
eradicating poliovirus from the earth.
It is important to note that paralysis does not occur in all polio cases. Acute poliomyelitis manifests
itself as a two–phased disease in a small proportion of its victims. The first phase is minor, a "non–
specific febrile illness" (Prevots 1999). All patients with polio experience this phase, and only a
small percentage develops the second phase, "aseptic meningitis and/or paralytic disease" (Prevots
1999). The aseptic meningitis is inflammation, caused by the virus, of the meninges of the

Outline Of A Program On Immunization
Perspectives on the expanded program on immunization in the quest to eradicate polio in Nigeria: A
comparative evaluation.
Word count: 2,559.
Introduction
Poliomyelitis also referred to as polio or infantile paralysis is a highly infectious yet preventable
viral infection (WHO 2014). It is caused by a human virus of the enterovirus subgroup called the
poliovirus; a member of the picornaviridae family (GPEI 2015a, Atkinson et al., 2009). Three
subtypes of the poliovirus exist: P1, P2 and P3. Immunity to one subtype does not confer any
immunity to the other subtypes. The wild polio virus is the type that occurs naturally and causes
disease; the P2 subtype has been eliminated in the wild and the last case was reported in India in
1999. Types ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One in 200 people infected by the polio virus end up with paralysis in the limbs (GPEI 2015). There
are two types of polio vaccines: the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and the inactivated polio vaccine
(IPV) which is given as an injection in the muscles of the arms or legs (CDC 2014).
Background
In public health, the eradication of a disease is the 'permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide
incidence of infection caused by a specific agent as a result of deliberate efforts; intervention
measures are no longer needed' (Dowdle 1999). Elimination of a disease on the other hand is
described as a decrease to zero of new cases of a defined disease in a defined geographical area
arising from deliberate endeavours. In such a case, continued interventions are necessary to prevent
the re–establishment of disease transmission (WHO). Immunization refers to a sum of processes
where an individual is made resistant and immune to an infectious disease by the administration of a
vaccine. Vaccines typically stimulate the body's immune system to guard against subsequent
infections in the person. Immunisation is a proven, cost effective, process that is estimated to save
between 2 to 3 million lives annually (WHO 2015)
In May 1974 the expanded program on immunization (EPI) was launched by the world health
assembly (as it was then known) to improve on the successful

Animal Experimentation Is Unnecessary?
People have animal, especially dog and cat, as a pet. They take care of animals and spend their lives
together. However, sacrificing animals is necessary to survive human's life. Moreover, using animals
as a laboratory table is become common because this can improve our health. Therefore, argument
about animal experimentation often leads to vigorous debate. Animal Experimentation Is
Unnecessary by Sarah A. Millar pointed out that animal experimentation wastes money and
brutalizes. Animal Experimentation Is Unethical by Robert Garner asserted that the social status of
animals is on a par with that of mortals. Animal Experimentation Is Necessary by Carl Cohen
claimed that vaccines about diseases, such as polio, have not practicalized unless animals were used
as a trial of side effect. Animal Experimentation Is Ethical by Henry E. Heffner argued that animal
experimentation profits not only humankind but also animals. On the surface at least, arguments
about animal experimentation seem different such as ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It is no doubt that animal experimentation profits human. It can safeguard human health. Animal
experimentation is not only helpful but also crucial advances for human. For example, people make
striking progress on vaccine about malaria, which killed three hundred million, by using mice as a
test. Therefore, people can gain advantage using animals. Moreover, Heffner pointed out that "
[animal experimentation] benefits humans, which in turn benefits lab animals" (Heffner 72).
According to him, the relationship between human and animal is mutualistic, which can profit both.
For example, the author pointed out laboratory is secure than in wild. In the wild, animals suffer
food and shelter and so on, so morality rate are high. However, in the laboratories, animals do not
have to worry about that because people will take care of them. Therefore, animals are bound to
reproduce

Polio Virus Essay
Polio Virus
Introduction
The polio virus which causes poliomyelitis in humans is an enterovirus which belongs to the
picornavirus (small, RNA) family. Polio virus is rapid, acid–resistant, stable, highly tissue specific
and consists of a single–stranded, positive RNA. Polio virus is able to reside in the throat or
intestinal tract of humans. Poliomyelitis is a highly contagious infectious disease which has three
strains, poliovirus 1 (PV1), PV2 and PV3. Polio virus, although rare in developed countries, can be
found in many under–developed countries due to the uncommonness of vaccinations there. Polio is
known as a disease of development. The oldest known record of polio is in an Egyptian stone
engraving of a young priest from 1350 ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Receptor–mediated endocytosis is thought to take the receptor into the cell. Polio virus is tissue
tropic, meaning it replicates only in specific tissue types, generally lymphoid tissue in the pharynx
and intestine. After uncoating, polio virus, which is an RNA virus, takes a single RNA molecule in
its protective capsid. This RNA can be converted directly to a protein in the cytoplasm. The virus
must then replicate its RNA using viral RNA–directed RNA polymerase. After replication of its own
RNA, the virus must package the new RNA into capsids in order to infect more cells.
Transmission
After replication in the mouth and intestine, polio virus spreads through the body via the blood.
Polio virus is contained in the Peyer's patches of the small intestine. Transmission to the central
nervous system and neuronal cell destruction is seen in a small number of infected individuals.
Damage
Polio virus affects humans by a lytic cycle. PV1 which is usually associated with epidemics causes
paralysis and consequently the most deaths. PV2 normally causes meningitis and a less severe
paralysis. PV3 is usually associated with sporadic cases of polio virus. The majority of polio cases
include only diarrhea symptoms or the individual is completely asymptomatic. Five percent of polio
cases show flu–like symptoms of fever, malaise, headache, nausea, sore throat, upset stomach, and
achy muscles. In one percent of

Polio Vaccine : An Infectious Disease
"A 1916 Polio epidemic in the United States killed 6,000 people and paralyzed 27,000 more" ("Polio
Vaccine"). This lead to the creation of the polio vaccine that has helped to prevent polio for a very
long time. The IPV and OPV vaccines played a huge role in all of this. Jonas Salk, who created the
IPV vaccine and Albert Sabin, who created the OPV vaccine saved millions of people all around the
world from polio (Petersen, Jennifer B). The IPV and OPV polio vaccine helped eliminate polio
from the United States and helped prevent polio in other parts of the world ("Polio Vaccine"). Polio
is an infectious disease that has killed and paralyzed many people (Birth of Jonas Salk and the death
of polio in India). It has taken the lives of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This disease has killed and paralyzed many. One of polio's fatal symptoms is paralyzing muscles
that help you breathe ("Polio Vaccine").
Jonas salk invented the IPV vaccine. He was born October 28, 1914 to Russian parents. His parents
had no education but wanted him to be successful so they encouraged him to work hard. "In 1939 he
received a Medical Degree from New York University College of Medicine. In 1942 he joined one
of his professors at the University of Michigan School of Public Health" (Petersen, Jennifer B).
Jonas and his professor developed vaccine for influenza, which was Salk's first invention. Then he
traveled to Pittsburgh and became a Professor. There, he also became head of the virus research lab.
He worked on a vaccine there. He used the killed virus to prevent people from contracting it. On
July 2, 1952 he vaccinated 42 children who did not have polio and his trials succeeded. On April 12,
1955 Salk vaccinate 1.8 million children and right after he announced that his trial were effective
and that the vaccine works (Petersen, Jennifer B).
The polio vaccine helped to prevent polio all around the world. It was invented in 1955. It
eliminated polio in the U.S. and is trying to do the same in other parts of the world. There are 2
types of vaccine: The IPV and OPV vaccines. The IPV vaccine, created by Jonas Salk, and the OPV
vaccine, created by Albert Sabin. Both of

A Brief Look at Polio
INTRODUCTION
Polio or poliomyelitis was derived from the Greek words "polio" meaning grey and "myelos"
meaning marrow which refers to the grey matter of the spinal cord and 'itis' meaning inflammation;
therefore poliomyelitis is inflammation of grey matter of the spinal cord (www.wikipedia.com). It is
a viral disease caused by the polio virus which belongs to the enterovirus genus; enterovirus because
it infects and replicates in the intestinal epithelial and lymphoid (tonsils, Peyer's patches) cells or
tissues, they then enter the central nervous system (CNS) through the blood and infect the motor
neurons. The replication in tonsils results in virus seen in pharyngeal secretions (Clinical
Microbiology by Mark Gladwin and Bill Trattler). The three serotypes of polio virus are type 1, 2
and 3, all three can cause and produce the same symptom with type 1 the most common form and
mostly associated with paralysis. Polio was one of the most feared childhood diseases of the 20th
century; it affected mostly children under the age of five. Most children who were infected at this
stage were asymptomatic or showed mild flu like symptoms and few paralytic complications were
seen among infected children and those who survived the polio attack developed lifelong immunity
to the virus. As improvements in sanitation were made over the years, fewer children were exposed
to polio virus infection but adolescents and adults became infected through their contact with
infected individuals and

Taking a Look at Polio
INTRODUCTION
Polio (poliomyelitis) is a viral disease also referred to as infantile paralysis. It is an infectious,
potentially fatal disease for which there is no known existing cure. This paper discusses the causes,
transmission, symptoms and prevention of polio. Further, it addresses the challenges involved in
eradicating Polio and suggests efforts to wipe out this disease.
The word "poliomyelitis" is derived from the Greek word, 'polios', meaning "grey", and myelós for
"marrow", which refers to the grey matter of the spinal cord. The suffix '–itis' denotes inflammation.
Severe infection can extend into the brainstem and higher structures, causing polio encephalitis
The polio virus is pathogenic only to humans. It is composed of a single (+) sense RNA genome
which is enclosed in the protein capsid, which enables it to infect specific cell types.
There exist three serotypes of the poliovirus, that is: Poliovirus type 1 (PV1), Polio type 2 (PV2),
and the Poliovirus type 3 (PV3) depending on the capsid protein. They are all extremely virulent and
cause the same disease symptoms. The most commonly encountered form is PV1, and it is most
closely associated with paralysis.
NATURAL HISTORY OF POLIOVIRUS
Polio has been around before mankind started studying history. Michael Underwood was the first to
provide a clinical description of the disease in 1789.
As countries developed, strides were made in sewage disposal techniques and in the provision of
clean water.

The Polio Vaccine Through The Eyes Of Its Creator
Academy of Achievement. "The Calling to Find a Cure." Academy of Achievement.
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/sal0int–1 (accessed November 18, 2009)
"The Calling to Find a Cure" provided an informative interview with Jonas Salk. It told the story of
the creation of the polio vaccine through the eyes of its creator. Salk also describes his childhood
and the events that lead up to his medical breakthrough.
Latour, Bruno , Steve Woolgar, and Jonas Salk. "Introduction." Laboratory Life. 1986.Reprint.
Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1986. 11. Print.
It showed the way that Jonas Salk studied polio and how he came to the conclusion that the vaccine
was correct. He also taught that it is a life taking job and that polio vaccine was a difficult task but a
successful one.
Salgado, Sebastiao. The End of Polio: A Global Effort to End a Disease. Illustrated edition Ed. New
York: Bulfinch, 2003. Print.
This shows pictures of the terrifying times that many went through with polio. It brings in reality by
putting a visual image on the subject. After understanding these photos, it is known that polio was
and is completely preventable.
Secondary Sources
"Albert B. Sabin." American History. ABC–CLIO, 2009. Web. 14 Nov. 2009.
The article "Albert B. Sabin" expands the history of the polio vaccine and provided more
information about the man who created the oral, live– virus vaccine. This is important because
without Albert B. Sabin's

Emergence And Eradication Of Polio
Emergence and Eradication of Polio
Viren Patel
Valparaiso University
I have neither given or received, nor have I tolerated others ' use of unauthorized aid. Viren Patel
Introduction
The poliomyelitis word is derived from the Greek. It is the effect of poliomyelitis virus on the spinal
cord which leads to paralysis. This virus enters from the person mouth and multiplication occurs in
the area of pharynx and GI tract. Before the onset of illness, this virus present in the throat and the
stool. After the onset it will be less in throat but continuous to excreted more in the stool. By
attacking lymphatic tissue this virus enters to the blood stream and infects the cells of the nervous
system. The severity of disease depends on the site of destruction. Respiratory or brainstem
involvement causes highest morbidity and mortality (Ellen, Banks & Skein, 2014).
This purpose of this paper is to discuss about the emergence and eradication. Emergence of the polio
includes the sign and symptoms, causes, spread of the disease, deaths due to the diseases, and
countries affected by this disease. Eradication includes the treatment of the disease, WHO
guidelines, invention of the vaccines, good sanitization, and immunization.
Summary
Polio often called poliomyelitis or infectious paralysis which is an acute, infectious, and viral
disease. It spreads from person

The Effects Of Polio Worldwide On The Wellbeing Of People...
Introduction:
In most countries of the world, polio has been eradicated. However in developing countries, there
are the cases suffering from polio. In recent years, there has been a re–emergence of polio in
Pakistan and its distribution amongst the population is not evenly distributed.
The purpose of this essay is to critically evaluate the need of health care professionals working in
health improvement organization to add towards the wellbeing of people and reducing health
inequalities. The essay will start with the background of poliomyelitis, the ways previously used to
alleviate its risks then it will discuss the re–emergence of polio worldwide and its related risks to
health particularly in Pakistan. It will also illustrate the actions to be taken by the health
professionals in order to get rid of this disease worldwide. The theme will also discuss the health
inequalities leading to increased number of people with polio. Health and wellbeing: Over the past
years scientists and World Health organization are in the urge to remove inequalities from the
society. According to World Health Organization (WHO), health is defined as a state of complete
physical, mental and social well–being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (1946).
The definition of wellbeing is bit more complex and controversial because previously it was
considered as a part of health. According to Dinham, there is no tangible language of wellbeing that
what it actually means (Dinham,

Poliomyelitis in Nigeria
Introduction For Nigeria, the polio virus is still around in the country because of purely religious
reasons. A section of the country, precisely the northern axis spurned a theory that the polio vaccine
was fertility control tool of the west. Nothing could be further from the truth! But for intervention of
senior clerics and prominent politicians from the area, there would have a standstill in the
eradication efforts. To worsen matters, damage had been done by the time of the intervention as a
case from caused Sudan which had been free to be re–infected again. And the world was back to
square 1 in polio eradication efforts! The world is not resting on its oars and efforts mainly in the
form polio eradication campaigns and conferences. One of such conferences held in the Nigerian
capital, Abuja where stock taking of Nigeria`s polio situation (and by extension polio situation
worldwide since Nigeria is one of last places polio is yet to eradicated) (BBC Focus on Africa
programme, April 28,2014). That conference informed participant and the whole world of the
progress the country was making. It emerged that Nigeria recorded only two cases in the last year
which was an improvement on early figures. Furthermore, the World Health Organisation (WHO)
issued the most radical directive when it imposed travel restrictions on individuals from Pakistan
advising that travellers from the Asian country prove full polio vaccination before they could travel

Effects of the Poliovirus: Poliomyelitis
 Poliovirus is an enterovirus which infects the guts then spreads through blood to infect the central
nervous system causing paralysis though infection is over 90% asymptomatic.
 The challenges eradicating polio range from socio–cultural factors to political and economical
factors. There are mainly three endemic areas remaining namely: Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
 The solution to the challenges would vary from countries and communities with specific issues.
But the direct involvement of the population is crucial making the battle more active than passive
with less publicity.
INTRODUCTION:
Polio had caused 350000 cases of infection in 1988 in over 125 countries and less than 2000 cases in
just about four countries in 2009 and then 406 cases in 2013. This 99% drop of polio threat is the
result of endless efforts of the World Health Organization, Unicef, Centers of Disease Control and
Prevention, Bill and Melinda foundation, Rotary foundation as well as governments supporting the
Global Polio Eradication Initiatives with immunization. Nevertheless, the remaining 1% is posing
great problem eradicating presenting various political, social, economical and technical obstacles. A
more direct consideration of especial challenges for specific countries and communities could put an
end to polio threat around the world.
POLIO DISEASE AND ERADICATION
Polio known as poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis is an acute viral infection caused by the
enterovirus called poliovirus. It

Taking a Look at Infantile Paralysis
INTRODUCTION
Poliomyelitis also called Polio or infantile paralysis describes an acute viral infectious disease which
is generally transmitted by the oral fecal route. The condition is characterized by the downwards
flexed foot, withered limbs associated with muscle atrophy following the loss of motor innervations
in the limb. The symptoms, location, extent and persistence of the paralysis caused depends on the
degree of the damage to the anterior horn neurons and the number of neurons affected. The forms of
the disease include the abortive poliomyelitis which is the most common, with symptoms such as
malaise; fever and vomiting that subside in few days. The nonparalytic poliomyelitis (aseptic
meningitis) has symptoms such as stiff neck and pain in the back and neck. This subsides in 2–10
days. This may advance to the paralytic Poliomyelitis resulting from the lower motor neuron
damage. The post Poliomyelitis is characterized by muscle atrophy, especially observed in
individuals decades after their experience with paralytic Poliomyelitis. Immunity to the type causing
the infection is permanent especially for the types– 1, 2 and 3. Maternal passive immunity is
transferred to the offspring and disappears during the first 6 months of life. Humans are the only
reservoir for the infection. The Global Polio Eradication initiative embarked upon by the World
Health organization, Rotary International, and the UNICEF gives hope of achieving the desired "
global polio free world The

A Brief Look at Poliomyelitis
INTRODUCTION Poliomyelitis is often called polio, this polio is an acute infectious disease caused
by a virus which can spread from person to person via the fecal– oral route. The term poliomyelitis
means inflammation of the spinal cord of the grey matter. In severe poliomyelitis infection it can
expand to the brainstem. Polio is so contagious that anyone living with a person that is recently
affected can spread the virus for weeks in their feces. It invades the nervous system and spread
within hours. Poliomyelitis causes infection with a member of the genus called the enterovirus
which is known as the poliovirus. It belongs to a group of Ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses which
affects the gastrointestinal tract especially the intestine and the oropharynx. Its structure is very
simple, composed of a single positive sense RNA genome which is enclosed in a protein shell called
the capsid. The capsid apart from protecting the virus genetic material, it capsid protein also make
the polio virus to infect some certain types of cells. There are three serotypes of poliovirus that have
been identified; it includes the poliovirus type 1, poliovirus type of 2 and poliovirus 3. They all look
similar but have a small different structure in its capsid protein. The poliovirus type 1 is the one that
causes most of the disease and is mostly associated with paralysis. Poliomyelitis can come in two
ways of polio infection .There is a minor illness which does not involve the Central

Poliomyelitis

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