Polio Found in China

A week or so ago the World Health Organization reported that polio has been found in China for the first time since 1999. Even more, they believe there is a high risk of the debilitating virus spreading because of the yearly Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage which will take place in early November.

Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a disease that can damage the nervous system and cause paralysis.

The World Health Organization said polio was showing up in remote locations where financial cutbacks had reduced the administration of the vaccine. Since polio immunization has become widespread in the United States, cases of polio are rare.

Polio is a horrible disease.

How You Catch Polio

The polio virus lives in the throat and intestinal tract of infected persons. The virus enters the body through the mouth, usually from hands contaminated with the stool of an infected person. Objects, such as eating utensils, can also spread the virus. Food and water are not thought to play a major role in the spread of polio.

What Happens With Polio

The polio virus attacks the nerve cells that control muscle movements. Many people who contract the virus have few or no symptoms. Others have short-term symptoms, such as headache, tiredness, fever, stiff neck and back, and muscle pain.

More serious problems happen when the virus invades nerves in the brain and causes paralysis of the muscles used in swallowing and breathing. Invasion of the nerves in the spinal cord can cause paralysis of the arms, legs, or trunk. Paralysis of the muscles that control breathing and swallowing can be fatal.

Symptoms usually start 7 to 14 days after exposure. Infected persons are most contagious from a few days before to a few days after the start of symptoms. However, persons with polio can spread the infection for as long as the virus is in their throat or stool. The virus can be found in the throat for about 1 week after infection and in the stool for 6 weeks or longer.

There is no treatment for polio.

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