Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious viral disease caused by the poliovirus. It primarily affects children under five and spreads through contact with contaminated water or food. The virus invades the nervous system and, in severe cases, can cause paralysis or even death. Though most infected individuals show mild or no symptoms, about 1% of cases result in permanent paralysis, typically in the legs. In some instances, the respiratory muscles can be affected, leading to life-threatening complications.
Polio has no cure, but it is preventable through vaccination. The development of effective vaccines in the 1950s, namely the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and the oral polio vaccine (OPV), led to large-scale immunization efforts that dramatically reduced the disease’s prevalence worldwide. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, launched in 1988, has been instrumental in reducing polio cases by over 99%, with wild poliovirus now endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
However, despite this progress, polio remains a global health concern, particularly in areas with low vaccination coverage. Continued vaccination efforts, surveillance, and international cooperation are crucial to fully eradicating the disease and preventing its resurgence in polio-free regions.