History
In the 20th century many parents feared polio. Although, most could recover quickly from the virus some temporary and some permanent paralysis could result. Sometimes the disease would even cause death. The epidemic of polio swept through towns every few years in the summer and fall months, leaving behind permanently disabled children in its wake. In the 1940's and 1950s at its peak polio paralzed or killed over a half a million people every year.
There have been a few different types of polio viruses; abortive, non-paralytic and paralytic. The name polio was shortened from poliomyelitis, which has Greek origins meaning grey and marrow. The itis refers to inflammation. In short it was an inflammation of the spinal cord that could cause paralysis. Records indicate the poliovirus was first discovered in the in 1789 in England. The first found case in the United States was in 1843. The last case of wild polio in the United States was in 1979 (however some sources indicate 1991). There are attempts to eradicate the disease from all countries within the next decade. (Please see http://www.polioeradication.org/Mediaroom.aspx for more information on eradication.) Polio is said to be eliminated from the Western Hemisphere as of 1994, however, it remains circulating in a handful of countries. As of 2013 endemic countries are said to be Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan. Vaccination programs are attempting to eliminate these last few pockets, until then the polio vaccination is still recommended worldwide due to the risk of imported cases. |
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