* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Polio - Interhealth
Sarcocystis wikipedia , lookup
2015–16 Zika virus epidemic wikipedia , lookup
Sexually transmitted infection wikipedia , lookup
Tuberculosis wikipedia , lookup
Hepatitis C wikipedia , lookup
Hepatitis B wikipedia , lookup
Schistosomiasis wikipedia , lookup
Dracunculiasis wikipedia , lookup
Whooping cough wikipedia , lookup
Orthohantavirus wikipedia , lookup
West Nile fever wikipedia , lookup
Henipavirus wikipedia , lookup
African trypanosomiasis wikipedia , lookup
Trichinosis wikipedia , lookup
Coccidioidomycosis wikipedia , lookup
Ebola virus disease wikipedia , lookup
Marburg virus disease wikipedia , lookup
Leptospirosis wikipedia , lookup
Middle East respiratory syndrome wikipedia , lookup
Eradication of infectious diseases wikipedia , lookup
Poliomyelitis Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is a highly infectious virus which enters the body through the mouth and then multiplies within the intestine. It invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis. It mainly affects children under the age of 5. In which countries have cases of polio been reported? Polio is currently endemic in 3 countries: • • • Afghanistan Nigeria Pakistan In addition, sporadic polio cases have been reported in the following countries since 2012: • • • • • • • • • • • Angola Cameroon Chad Congo Côte D’Ivoire Democratic Republic of Congo Ethiopia Kenya Niger Somalia Syria Polio cases are reported in other countries from time to time. Cases may be imported from endemic countries; border areas are particularly vulnerable. Conflict and civil unrest may cause the national vaccination programme to be suspended. This causes a rise in unvaccinated children and adults, making them more susceptible to outbreaks of polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases. There has been a great effort to eradicate polio in recent years. It has been eliminated from the WHO Regions of the Americas, Western Pacific and Europe. There were 223 reported cases of polio globally in 2012, down from an estimated 350,000 in 1998. The World Health Organisation has estimated that 10 million people are walking today who would otherwise have been paralysed by polio. The eradication of polio would represent savings of US$ 4-50 billion over the next 20 years, mainly in low-income countries. What are the symptoms of polio? Over 90% of people infected with the polio virus do not have any symptoms, but those that do may experience the following: • • • • • • Fever Fatigue Headache Vomiting & nausea Flu-like symptoms Neck & back stiffness • • • Pain in the limbs Irreversible paralysis, most commonly in the legs, in 1 in 200 cases 5-10% of cases who experience paralysis die when their breathing muscles become paralysed How might I become infected with polio? Polio is spread by person-to-person contact and only affects humans. Transmission most often occurs through contact with faeces from an infected person and less commonly via cough and sneeze droplets. It can be contracted by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, swimming in dirty water or by close contact with someone carrying the virus. Polio can spread rapidly through a community, especially in conditions of poor hygiene and sanitation. An infected person may spread the virus to others immediately before and 1-2 weeks after developing symptoms. As most people who are infected with polio have no symptoms of the illness, they can “silently” spread the infection to many others before the first case of polio paralysis emerges. How is polio treated? There is no cure for polio. Treatment is supportive to help alleviate the symptoms. Heat therapy and physiotherapy are used to stimulate the muscles and medication is given to help relax the muscles and improve mobility. How can I protect myself from polio? Basic hygiene precautions can prevent transmission. Ensure you and your family have received a full course of polio vaccine. This is normally administered as part of each country’s routine immunisation schedule. The UK schedule for polio vaccine is detailed below. The number and timings of doses may vary from country to country: First dose at 2 months Second dose at 3 months Third dose at 4 months Booster dose at 3 years and 4 months Booster dose at 14 years of age Travellers who have not had a dose of polio vaccine in the past 10 years and who are going to countries where there are reported cases of polio are recommended to have a booster dose. Previous polio disease does not necessarily protect against another episode of polio. The risk to those working internationally and their families Until complete eradication has been achieved worldwide, there remains a risk to travellers from polio and the possibility that polio virus will re-emerge in countries previously declared polio-free. The disease can be introduced to polio-free countries by infected travellers. It is therefore important that adults and children complete their full course of polio vaccinations as part of their country’s routine immunisation schedule. If you are travelling to a country where there have been reported cases of polio and have any doubts about your polio vaccination status, please contact InterHealth for further advice. Sources Centers for Disease Control & Prevention World Health Organisation Global Polio Eradication Initiative National Travel Health Network & Centre Further advice and information Further information and updates on polio and updates can be accessed from InterHealth www.interhealth.org.uk and the following sources: • World Health Organisation (WHO) www.who.int • National Travel Health Network & Centre (NaTHNaC) www.nathnac.org • Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) www.cdc.gov InterHealth Authors Cathy Travis & Daniel Campion Last updated: December 2013