You've probably been hearing (and seeing) a lot about the polio virus. Though a lot of kids get vaccinated, there are usually sad cases around.
India is the latest country to have officially stopped transmission of polio —with its last reported case in 2011.
Only 3 countries remain where the disease is endemic—Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria . The number of wild polio cases reported in 2015 was less than a third of the previous lowest year, 2012.
Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis , is an infectious disease caused by the polio virus, and it can affect children below six years old.
In about 0.5% of cases there is muscle weakness resulting in an inability to move. This can occur over a few hours to few days. The weakness most often involves the legs but may less commonly involve the muscles of the head, neck and diaphragm .
Many but not all people fully recover. In those with muscle weakness about 2% to 5% of children and 15% to 30% of adults die.
Another 25% of people have minor symptoms such as fever and a sore throat and up to 5% have headache, neck stiffness and pains in the arms and legs. These people are usually back to normal within one or two weeks.
In up to 70% of infections there are no symptoms, and years after recovery, post- polio syndrome may occur, with a slow development of muscle weakness similar to that which the person had during the initial infection.
Polio virus is usually spread from person to person through infected fecal matter entering the mouth. (You can contact the virus, if you eat food perched on by a fly which previously perched on contaminated fecal matter)
It may also be spread by food or water containing human feces and less commonly from infected saliva.
This is why we need to atop the habit of throwing poo bags on road sides, and beside fences or in gutters and drainages.
Those who are infected may spread the disease for up to six weeks even if no symptoms are present.
The disease may be diagnosed by finding the virus in the feces or detecting antibodies against it in the blood. The disease only occurs naturally in humans.
Polio is preventable with the polio vaccine; however, a number of doses are required for it to be effective.
Individuals after being exposed to the virus, either through infection or by immunization with polio vaccine, develop immunity.
In immune individuals, antibodies against polio virus are present in the tonsils and gastrointestinal tract, and are able to block virus replication.
These antibodies against PV also prevent the spread of the virus to motor neurons of the central nervous system.
The major priority now in Nigeria is to rapidly immunize all children around the recently affected area, to ensure that no other child succumbs to this terrible disease.”
The Director of polio eradication at WHO Headquarters, Dr. Michel Zaffran, was optimistic when he said earlier in August,
“We are confident that with a swift response and strong collaboration with the Nigerian Government, we can soon rid the country of polio once and for all. This is an important reminder that the world cannot afford to be complacent as we are on the brink of polio eradication – we will only be done when the entire world has been certified polio-free."
According to WHO, genetic sequencing of the viruses suggests that the new cases are most closely linked to a wild polio virus strain last detected in Borno in 2011.
Low-level transmission of the polio virus is not unexpected, particularly in areas where it is difficult to reach children with the vaccine.
As recently as 2012, Nigeria accounted for more than half of all polio cases worldwide, but the country has made significant strides, recently marking two years without a case on 24 July 2016.
This progress has been the result of a concerted effort by all levels of government, civil society, religious leaders and tens of thousands of dedicated health workers.
Steps including increased community involvement and the establishment of Emergency Operations Centers at the national and state level have been pivotal to Nigeria’s capacity to respond to outbreaks.
We need to appreciate all efforts geared towards this noble cause, and if you are polio free, be thankful, and help spread the awareness.
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