Today, 24th October, the world is observing world polio day. The world polio day was first introduced in 1988. UNICEF, Rotary international and other partners joined the Global Polio Eradication Initiative with the aim of eradicating polio. At the time of the campaign 1988, the polio was endemic in 125 countries worldwide. Since than, due to the appropriate measures, in 2018, only 3 countries are having polio cases; these are Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria Source
[image source: Wikipedia]
Polio (Poliomyelitis) is a paralyzing, crippling and potentially fatal condition caused by a virus named "polio". It is highly infectious and transmitted from person to person by faecal-oral route i.e. from eating or drinking contaminated water and food. Later the virus takes lodgement in the intestine , multiplies, invades the nervous system and causes paralysis. It is the disease of young kids,usually under 5 years ofage.
Following infection, the initial symptoms are may be fever,vomiting, headache, neck stiffness and pain in the limbs but this percentage is very less. 90% of the infected person won't have any symptoms initially. A small portion of the affected children will go into complete paralysis states. There is no effective cure once the paralysis is established but polio can be prevented with available vaccines.
There were 3 types of world polio virus (WPV) but now only type 1 exists. With proper and timely use of vaccines the transmission of virus can be prevented. CDC recommend that all children should get 4 doses of polio vaccine. The schedules are:One at each
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 through 18 months
- 4 through 6 years
Simply, 2 type of polio vaccine are used:
- An Inactivated poliovirus given by injection (IPV) which was developed by Jonas Salk and was available to use in 1955, and
- A weakened poliovirus given by mouth (OPV) which was developed by Albert Sabin and started using commercially in 1961
You can follow the #WorldPolioDay and #EndPolio tag in Twitter to get more updates on this day's celebration
References:
https://www.endpolio.org/world-polio-day
https://www.daytodaygk.com/october-24-world-polio-day/
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/polio/index.html
https://www.who.int/features/qa/07/en/
http://www.who.int/life-course/news/events/world-polio-day-2017/en/
Posted from myAirClinic Healthcare App. Download Android App on Google PLAYSTORE!