Healthy Line: Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)

 

Polio: A Comprehensive Overview of the Disease, Its History, and Eradication Efforts

 

Introduction

Polio or poliomyelitis is a viral infection that mostly targets children when they are young. The poliovirus attacks the nerves and can cause someone to become paralyzed very quickly. Because vaccination programs have succeeded in most parts of the world, polio is now rare except in a few countries. This piece examines the background, spread, symptoms, prevention and worldwide action against polio.

 

1. What is Polio?

Polio develops when a person is infected with the poliovirus, a kind of Enterovirus. Three different types of the virus exist in nature.

·        Type 1 (WPV1) – It is the most widespread and dangerous form, so it is responsible for most outbreaks.

·        Type 2 (WPV2) – Officially removed from existence in 2015.

·        Type 3 (WPV3) – was declared eradicated in the year 2019.

Mostly, the virus is spread by touching things that have been contaminated by stool, then putting your hands in your mouth. Sometimes, COVID-19 can also be spread by breathing in air droplets.

 

2. Symptoms of Polio

Around 70% of those who catch poliovirus are not aware of any symptoms. But if symptoms do occur, they may be mild or very serious.

A. Non-Paralytic Polio (Abortive Poliomyelitis)

·        Fever

·        Sore throat

·        Headache

·        Fatigue

·        If you feel sick and throw up.

·        Problems in the neck and back

The symptoms will usually clear up within a few days without causing paralysis.

 

 

B. Paralytic Polio (Less than 1% of Cases)

For more serious cases, the virus can kill motor neurons in the spinal cord which causes:

·        The loss of leg muscle function is known as flaccid paralysis.

·        Bulbar polio causes trouble with breathing, swallowing and speaking because it affects the brainstem.

·        Muscle weakness and tiredness that occur many years after an initial polio infection is called post-polio syndrome.

 

C. Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS)

Sometimes, polio survivors face new health problems long after being infected.

·        Progressive muscle weakness

·        Fatigue

·        Joint pain

·        Breathing difficulties

 

3. Transmission of Polio

Polio is very easy to spread because it is transmitted by:

·        Fecal-oral route: Through the fecal-oral route, the virus may be spread when an infected person’s stool gets into water or food.

·        Respiratory droplets: The virus can spread uncommonly through saliva or mucus droplets, even though this is less common.

·        Asymptomatic carriers: People who don’t show any symptoms can still pass on the virus to others.

 Sanitation problems and dirty water raise the chance of getting the disease.

 

4. History of Polio

The first mention of polio can be seen in ancient Egyptian carvings showing people with weakened limbs. Yet, the worst outbreaks happened around the late 1800s and early 1900s mainly in Europe and North America.

·        In 1894, Vermont, USA, saw the first major case of polio.

·        An outbreak in 1916 killed 6,000 people in New York City.

·        In 1952, more than 58,000 Americans were infected with polio and thousands ended up paralyzed.

·        Dr. Jonas Salk invented the IPV or inactivated polio vaccine, in 1955.

·        In 1961, Dr. Albert Sabin introduced OPV, and it was quickly used because it was easy to give.

 

5. Prevention and Vaccination

Preventing polio can best be achieved by vaccination. There are two main kinds of vaccines used around the world.

A. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)

·        Made with dead poliovirus.

·        Given as a shot in the leg or arm.

·        There is no chance for vaccine-derived polio.

·        Available in countries that have gotten rid of polio (for example, the U.S. since 2000).

B. Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)

·        Has a live virus that has been weakened.

·        Given by putting drops into the eyes.

·        Enhances intestine immunity, thereby decreasing the number of people infected.

·        Sometimes, it changes and starts to infect people with vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV).

 

Global Vaccination Efforts

The GPEI started in 1988 and has cut the number of polio cases by 99.9% so far. Important strategies for your business include:

·        Vaccination drives involving large groups.

·        Observation of the spread of outbreaks.

·        Vaccination teams going door to door in areas at high risk.

6. Polio Eradication Progress

Since the GPEI started, important progress has been achieved.

·        In 1988, there were 350,000 cases reported worldwide.

·        Last year, there were only 12 cases of wild polio in the world (only in Afghanistan and Pakistan).

·        Wild polio was eradicated in Africa in 2020.

But some problems continue to arise:

·        VDPV is spread in communities where people are not well vaccinated.

·        Vaccination in Afghanistan and Pakistan is not possible in many far-off, hard-to-reach zones.

·        Misinformation about vaccines results in fewer children getting them.

 

7. The Future of Polio Eradication

The WHO wants polio to be totally eliminated from the world by 2026. The main things to do are:

·        Boosting regular immunization.

·        Enhancing the sanitation and hygiene of people.

·        Increasing monitoring to find out about outbreaks as soon as possible.

·        Moving from OPV to IPV to eliminate the dangers from VDPV.

 

Conclusion

This disease was once so much feared because it often left children paralyzed and could be fatal. Because of vaccines and worldwide health work, the world is close to totally getting rid of it. Still, we must keep vaccinating and keep an eye on the disease to avoid polio coming back. If people keep working, future generations could be polio-free.

 

References

·        World Health Organization (WHO) – Program for Eliminating Polio.

·        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – How to Prevent Polio.

·        Reports from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

This article gives a thorough summary of polio, its consequences and how it is being fought. If this information helped you, tell others about why vaccination is so important!