October 24th is observed as World Polio Day by the initiation of Rotary International. The day honours the birthday of Jonas Salk, who first made efforts against polio elimination. This day seeks to create awareness and campaign against polio eradication. Since 1980, the poliovirus has reduced by 99.9%. The efforts are now directed towards eradicating it completely. World Health Organisation and Global Polio Eradication Initiative are trying to eliminate this virus completely.

About Polio

Polio is a deadly disease that can cause damage to a person’s nervous system. In some instances, polio can cause muscle paralysis. If the paralysis happens to important muscles like the brain or breathing muscles, then it turns fatal. The poliovirus multiplies in one’s intestine and can travel through faeces. If one does not wash their hands after defecating, they hold the chance of spreading the disease. 

If someone consumes faeces contaminated water then they too can get the infection. The symptoms of polio are fever, nausea, headache, sore throat, weakness, stiff muscles and body pain. There are three variants of polio. In 2018, there were 378 cases of polio present worldwide. Later in 2019, there were 71 cases only. 

Polio free India

Exactly a decade ago, India recorded its last polio case. In January 2011, India had observed its last case of wild poliovirus. After achieving consecutive three years of zero polio cases, India was declared a polio-free country in 2014. The entire region of South-East Asia too received the clearance certificate. 

In India, two types of vaccines are administered. One is Oral Polio Vaccine or OPV. It is given once when birth happens. Then three doses are provided on weeks 6, 10 and 14. A booster dose is given between the age of 16 to 24 months. The second is the Injectable Polio Vaccine or IPV, given at 6 and then at 14 weeks of age. 

Unfortunately, even one case of polio can cause the spread to other people. Let’s hope that tomorrow on World Polio Day, more people become aware and willing to fight against polio.