Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis. Initial symptoms of polio include ...

Pakistan is one of the two endemic countries for polio, reporting co-circulation WPV1 and cVDPV2. classified by International Health Regulations (IHR) as a state infected with Wild Poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) circulating Vaccine derived poliovirus 2 (cVDPV2) potential risk international spread. We describe an ongoing outbreak in North Waziristan district southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province l...

Even as the physical causes and treatments for post-polio sequelae (PPS) are being identified, psychological symptoms--chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and compulsive, Type A behavior--are becoming evident in polio survivors. Importantly, these symptoms are not only causing marked distress but are preventing patients from making the lifestyle changes necessary to treat their PPS. Neither cl...

To the Editor: In July 2007, an Australian traveler imported polio from Pakistan to Australia (1). He was a 22-year-old man who had immigrated to Australia and had traveled to his country of origin (Pakistan) to visit friends and relatives. Pakistan is one of 4 countries (Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Pakistan) where polio is still endemic. A diagnosis of polio was made shortly after his return ...

As the world takes rapid strides in the eradication of polio, the trivalent inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) would be the only polio vaccine available in the near future. Since the maintenance of herd immunity is important for sustaining polio eradication, this vaccine would need to be used in the early childhood immunization schedule for many years to come [1]. WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of...

BACKGROUND Despite the efforts of national and international organizations, polio has not been eradicated from Pakistan. The prevalence of polio in Pakistan is exceptional in global context. Quetta and Peshawar divisions are amongst the most affected regions hit by polio in Pakistan. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards polio immunization among r...

Marco Orsini,1,2 Jano Alves de Souza,2 Marco Antonio Araújo Leite,2 Silmar Teixeira,3 Arthur de Sá Ferreira,1 Victor Hugo Bastos,3 Marcos RG de Freitas,2 Acary Bulle Oliveira4 1Rehabilitation Sciences, Augusto Motta University Center, UNISUAN, Bonsucesso; 2Neurology Service, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói; 3Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Piauí; 4Neurology Service, Pa...

Polio eradication goals: IAP strongly believes that polio will be eradicated from India and that it will happen sooner or later, sooner the better. IAP also has full faith in the current polio eradication goals. IAP firmly believes that the 4 pronged strategy of polio eradication consisting of effective routine immunization, Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA), AFP surveillance and mop-up...

BACKGROUND Designing effective public health campaigns in areas of armed conflict requires a nuanced understanding of how violence impacts the epidemiology of the disease in question. METHODS We examine the geographical relationship between violence (represented by the location of detonated Improvised Explosive Devices) and polio incidence by generating maps of IEDs and polio incidence during...